# NTSB GAA17CA332: Cessna 208, N1265U, Elfin Cove, AK, May 24, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 24, 2017, 08:30 local (11:30 UTC) - Place: Elfin Cove, AK - Coordinates: 58.195278, -136.348327 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=58.1953&lon=-136.3483&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 8 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 23, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 95352 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA332 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95352/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95352 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA332 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to recognize the magnitude of the swell size during landing, which resulted in a tail-low hard water landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: choppy surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023030): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023030/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) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the float-equipped airplane reported that, during a water landing, he "misread the size of the swell." He added that, immediately after touchdown. the airplane jumped a swell, which resulted in a tail-low hard landing. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the float-equipped airplane reported that, during a water landing, he "misread the size of the swell". He added that, immediately after touchdown the airplane jumped a swell, which resulted in a tail low hard landing. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: N1265U (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 208 (A) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 20800375 - Year built: 2004 - Airframe hours: 2338.2 - Engines: Honeywell TPE 331-12-JR 900 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Kalinin Partners LLC., doing business as Alaska Seaplanes - Registered owner: Kalinin Partners LLC. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, May 9, 2017 - Departed: PAJN, Juneau, AK - Destination: ELV, Elfin Cove, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: ELV, Elfin Cove - Equipment: Stall warning system, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 12, 2017; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 5,142 total, 150 in this make and model, 5,000 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 87 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 9 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,200 ft overcast - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.26 inHg - Observed at: PAEL ## 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 20170524007479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170524007479A), May 24, 2017: Cessna 208, Elfin Cove, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot narrative: the conditions were a west n/w wind at 15 KTS and a swell that appeared to be about 2' with chop on top at the entrance of the Cove. I misread… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 5, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95352. 4.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40458563&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 366 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40458564&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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.