- Date
- August 17, 1999, 16:09 local (23:09 UTC)
- Place
- Clear Lake, CA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N206RRCessna TU 206G
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 14, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19990817012389A
- Case key
- 47131
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 fracture and separation of the front left pontoon attach point due to corrosion. The inability of the area to be inspected was a factor in the accident.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
According to the pilot, during a water landing with the float equipped airplane, the touchdown was smooth. Shortly after water contact, the airplane suddenly veered to the left and overturned. The winds were light and variable and there were no white caps. An inspection of the airplane revealed a fracture and separation of the spreader bar at the front left pontoon attach point. The fracture was corroded. This area could only be observed because the pontoon was split open, and a mechanic could not inspect this area unless the floats were removed. A visual inspection had been completed on the floats by a mechanic the day before, and there were no mechanical problems with the airplane.
Factual narrative
On August 17, 1999, at 1609 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna TU 206G on floats, N206RR, sustained substantial damage when it overturned during a water landing on Clear Lake at Clear Lake, California. The private pilot/owner operated the personal flight under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot and one passenger were not injured. The airplane departed San Carlos, California, about 1515. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed.
The pilot stated he has a home near Clear Lake and flew there frequently. He estimated he accomplished approximately 200 landings on the lake. He said the touchdown was smooth, the airplane suddenly veered to the left, and overturned. He said the winds were light and variable and there were no white caps. A visual inspection had been completed on the floats the day before, and the pilot stated there were no mechanical problems with the airplane.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) accident coordinator inspected the airplane and observed a fracture and separation of the spreader bar at the front left pontoon attach point. The fracture area was corroded. He noted this area could only be observed because the pontoon was split open, exposing the attach point. The FAA inspector stated that he did not think a mechanic could normally inspect this area unless the floats were removed.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N206RR
- Reported as
- Cessna TU 206G
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 20606874
- Airframe hours
- 940
- Engine
- Continental TSIO-520-M, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Ronald A. Rosberg
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 11, 1999 · 17 hours before
- Departed
- SQL · San Carlos, CA
- Airport
- NONE · Clear Lake
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 59
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 2,223 total · 207 in this make and model · 1,997 as pilot in command · 42 in the last 90 days · 18 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 120° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 91 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- UKI, 25 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.