# NTSB GAA16CA207: Cessna U206, N9610Z, Port Alsworth, AK, April 29, 2016

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: April 29, 2016, 14:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place: Port Alsworth, AK
- Coordinates: 60.187221, -154.351669 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.1872&lon=-154.3517&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 15, 2016
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 93079
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA207
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93079/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93079
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA207

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain an appropriate descent rate during the landing flare in gusty crosswind conditions, which resulted in a hard landing, aerodynamic stall, impact with terrain, nose gear collapse, and nose over.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: descent rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna U206G, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md?model=2073356), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna U206G, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2073356), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cessna U206G, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2073356), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Cessna U206G, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2073356), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna U206G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=2073356), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Cessna U206G, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2073356), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Cessna U206G, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2073356), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cessna U206G, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2073356), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna U206G, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2073356), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that during the initial touchdown in gusty wind conditions, the airplane landed hard. The pilot further reported that after the hard landing the airplane bounced, aerodynamically stalled, and subsequently impacted the ground nose wheel landing gear first and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, and the empennage. According to the pilot there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that during the initial touchdown in gusty wind conditions, the airplane landed hard. The pilot further reported that after the hard landing the airplane bounced, aerodynamically stalled, and subsequently impacted the ground nose wheel landing gear first and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, and the empennage. According to the pilot there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9610Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9610Z-2019-08-02), registration cancelled 2019-08-02, S/N U20606572, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA U206 (G)
- Registry model: [Cessna U206G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-u206g) (registry code 2073356) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: U20606572
- Year built: 1982
- Airframe hours: 6342
- Engines: Continental IO-520-F 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 15, 2015
- Departed: PVT, Fairbanks, AK
- Destination: PVT, Port Alsworth, AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: PVT, Jack Ross Airstrip, runway 08, 1,100 × 140 ft, dirt
- Equipment: Handheld GPS, Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 80; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 20, 2015; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 6,250 total, 700 in this make and model, 6,000 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 60° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 29.69 inHg
- Observed at: PALJ, 1 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20160429003669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160429003669A), Apr 29, 2016: Cessna U206G, Port Alsworth, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot of CE-206G N9610Z was landing at r&r air strip, an Unregistered strip located 1.4 miles southwest of AK51. With slight crosswind. Once the aircraft…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 9, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93079. 2.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40441076&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Accident Photo (Courtesy of Pilot) (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 88 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40441077&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo%20(Courtesy%20of%20Pilot)-Master.PDF

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.