- Date
- July 1, 2008, 10:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place
- Coeur d'Alene, ID
- Injuries
- 4 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N4776UCessna TU206G
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 26, 2008
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20080701841109A
- Case key
- 68380
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain proper runway alignment and clearance from a large rock on the side of the runway. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the pilot to maintain the runway environment of his private strip clear of obstructions.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
During the departure roll, as the airplane became airborne, the left main landing gear collided with a large rock on the left side of the pilot's private airstrip. From the cockpit the pilot visually confirmed that the damage seemed to be confined to the left wheel fairing, which was torn off, but could not discern any other damage. The airplane operated normally and the pilot landed without further incident. After landing, the pilot noted that the left tire was flat and the left main landing gear strut was damaged, including the gear box. The pilot stated that accident could have been prevented if he had ensured there were no rocks on the airstrip, and if he had maintained runway centerline. The pilot added that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine.
Factual narrative
In a written statement, the pilot reported he intended to depart from his private airstrip about 250 miles from the destination airport. During the departure roll, as the airplane became airborne, the main landing gear collided with a large rock on the left side of the strip. The pilot visually confirmed the damage of the left wheel fairing (torn off), but could not discern any other damage. The airplane operated normally and the pilot landed without further incident. After landing, the pilot noted that the left tire was flat and the left main landing gear was damaged, including the gear box.
In the section titled "RECOMMENDATION" in the NTSB Pilot/Operator Report, form 6120.1/2, the pilot stated that accident could have been prevented if he had ensured there were no rocks on the airstrip, and if he had maintained runway centerline. The pilot added that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4776U
- Reported as
- Cessna TU206G
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- U20605096
- Airframe hours
- 2,632
- Engine
- Continental TSIO-520, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · December 1, 2007
- Departed
- Monument, OR
- Destination
- COE · Coeur d'Alene, ID
- Airport
- NONE · Private Strip, runway 10, 1,500 × 20 ft, grass/turf
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 67
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3
- Last flight review
- January 1, 2008
- Flight hours
- 2,880 total · 1,200 in this make and model · 20 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Observed at
- GCD
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N4776U · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.