# NTSB SEA05LA141: Cessna 206E, N9428G, Stuart Island, WA, July 8, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 8, 2005, 11:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Stuart Island, WA - Coordinates: 48.674446, -123.173332 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.6744&lon=-123.1733&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 27, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 62364 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA05LA141 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62364/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA05LA141 ## Probable cause The pilot's excessive airspeed on final for the current runway surface conditions, and the intentional obstruction avoidance maneuver he executed when it became clear the aircraft was about to go off the end of the runway. Factors include the pilot's improper decision to land on a surface that he had not first inspected from the air, clouds and rain in the area, and a wet, muddy landing surface. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - airspeed(vref) - excessive, pilot in command (cause) - maneuver to avoid obstructions - intentional, pilot in command (cause) - aircraft performance,hydroplaning condition - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor) - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor) - weather condition - rain (contributing factor) - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - water (contributing factor) - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - muddy (contributing factor) ## Analysis Due to the restrictions created by marginal VFR conditions, the pilot entered the pattern on a close-in dogleg to final for a landing to the west. Just as he was starting to turn final, he heard another pilot broadcast that he was departing Stuart Island to the east. The pilot then transmitted, "Aircraft close in, landing to the west, Stuart". He then prepared to execute a go-around. But, as he rounded the corner of the island and rolled out on final, the pilot saw an aircraft pull off of the runway to the grassy area to its south. He therefore decided to continue his approach to a full-stop landing. Upon touchdown on the 2,000 foot runway, the aircraft encountered a significant amount of standing water, and the pilot immediately retracted the flaps in order to get more weight on the wheels for braking. Because of the amount of standing water, the aircraft began to hydroplane, and as it neared the end of the runway, it still had not come to a stop. In an attempt to keep the aircraft from going off the far end of the runway, the pilot intentionally executed a sharp turn to the right. Just after the turn was initiated, the left main gear and the nose gear dug into the soft muddy surface, resulting in the aircraft tipping up on its left side and the left wing contacting the runway surface. During the investigation it was determined that a heavy rain shower had passed through the area about 15 minutes prior to the landing, and that there was still a significant portion of the runway surface that had standing water on it. During a post-accident interview, the pilot started that he did not realize that there was so much standing water on the runway until after he touched down and it started spraying up on the bottom of the wing and onto the windshield. He further stated that if he had realized that the potential for hydroplaning was so great, he would have slowed his approach speed to compensate for the overly-wet conditions. ## Factual narrative On July 8, 2005, approximately 1130 Pacific daylight time, the wing of a Cessna 206E, N9428G, impacted the runway during the landing roll at Stuart Island Airstrip (East), Stuart Island, Washington. The airline transport pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured, but the aircraft, which is owned and operated by Aeronautical Services, of Friday Harbor, Washington, sustained substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 135 cargo flight, which departed Eastsound Airport, Orcas Island, Washington, about 10 minutes prior to the accident, was being operated in an area of low clouds, rain, and mist. The aircraft had been on a company VFR flight plan. There was no report of an ELT activation. According to the pilot, due to the restrictions created by marginal VFR conditions, he entered the pattern on a close-in dogleg to final for a landing to the west. Just as he was starting to turn final, he heard another pilot broadcast that he was departing Stuart Island to the east. The pilot of N9428G therefore transmitted, "Aircraft close in, landing to the west, Stuart". He then prepared to execute a go-around. As he rounded the corner of the island and rolled out on final, the pilot saw an aircraft pull off of the runway to the grassy area to its south. He therefore decided to continue his approach to a full-stop landing. Upon touchdown on the 2,000 foot runway, the aircraft encountered a significant amount of standing water, and the pilot immediately retracted the flaps in order to get more weight on the wheels for braking. Because of the amount of standing water, the aircraft began to hydroplane, and as it neared the end of the runway, it still had not come to a stop. In an attempt to keep the aircraft from going off the far end of the runway, the pilot intentionally executed a sharp turn to the right. Just after the turn was initiated, the left main gear and the nose gear dug into the soft muddy surface, resulting in the aircraft tipping up on its left side and the left wing contacting the runway surface. During the investigation it was determined that a heavy rain shower had passed through the area about 15 minutes prior to the landing of N9428G, and that there was still a significant portion of the runway surface that had standing water on it. During a post-accident interview, the pilot stated that he did not realize that there was so much standing water on the runway until after he touched down and it started spraying up on the bottom of the wings and onto the windshield. He further stated that if he had realized that the potential for hydroplaning was so great, he would have slowed his approach speed to compensate for the overly-wet conditions. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9428G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9428G), registered now, S/N U20601628, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 206E - Registry model: [Cessna U206E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-u206e) (registry code 2073350) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 01628 - Engines: Continental IO-520-F 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Aeronautical Services - Registered owner: Numbers Plus Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2005 - Departed: KORS, Orcas Island, WA - Destination: 7WA5, Stuart Island, WA - Airport: 7WA5, Stuart Island, runway 27, 2,000 × 75 ft, dirt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 1, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 11,600 total, 5,000 in this make and model, 70 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,500 ft broken - Temperature: 61 °F ## 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 20050708015319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050708015319A), Jul 8, 2005: Cessna U206E, Stuart Island, WA, Substantial damage. (-23) PIC made a radio call inbound to 7WA5 (Stuart Island airpark - east). He heard no other calls for the airport. Upon reaching 7WA5 he noticed a plane on… ## Other investigations on N9428G (2) 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. - [NTSB WPR09CA084](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA084), Jan 14, 2009: Cessna U206E (N9428G), Crane Island, San Juan Is., WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's improper application of brakes. - [NTSB SEA98LA034](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA98LA034), Oct 9, 1997: Cessna U-206E (N9428G), Friday Harbor, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to park with the aircraft headed into the wind in high wind conditions. A factor include the high wind condition. 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.