# NTSB SEA93LA184: Cessna 206B, N3431L, Challis, ID, August 25, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 25, 1993, 07:05 local (13:05 UTC)
- Place: Challis, ID
- Coordinates: 44.649047, -114.150451 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.6490&lon=-114.1505&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 1, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 41755
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA93LA184
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41755/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA93LA184

## Probable cause

INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS. THE DOWNDRAFT WAS A FACTOR.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor)
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - wet
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload

## Analysis

WHILE MAKING A FULL FLAP, SHORT/SOFT FIELD APPROACH TO THE 1,000 FOOT LONG REMOTE MOUNTAIN AIRSTRIP, THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED A STRONG DOWNDRAFT. HE ADDED FULL POWER, BUT HIS REMEDIAL ACTION WAS NOT ADEQUATE TO KEEP THE AIRCRAFT FROM LANDING HARD ON THE WATER-SOAKED DIRT STRIP. DURING THE HARD LANDING, THE NOSE GEAR EXPERIENCED AN OVERLOAD AND COLLAPSED.

## Factual narrative

On August 25, 1993, at approximately 0705 mountain daylight time (MDT), a Cessna U206B, N3431L, landed hard at a remote airstrip about 40 miles northwest of Challis, Idaho. The FAA certificated commercial pilot was not injured, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The flight, which departed Challis, Idaho about 0635 MDT, was operating in visual meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. The flight was on a company VFR flight plan, and the ELT, which was activated upon impact, was turned off at the site of the accident.

The pilot said that he was attempting a short/soft field landing at the 1,000 foot long by 25 foot wide remote mountain airstrip. He said that he was on short final using full flaps, when the aircraft encountered a strong downdraft. He applied full power, but was unable to keep from landing hard on the water soaked dirt  runway.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3431L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3431L), registered now, S/N U206-0731, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 206B
- Registry model: [Cessna U206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-u206b) (registry code 2073322) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: U-206-0731
- Airframe hours: 4360
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-ECF 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Danner, Robert P.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 21, 1993, 8 hours before
- Departed: U15
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: Lower Loon Creek Airstrip

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 9,100 total, 3,000 in this make and model, 300 in the last 90 days, 110 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 45 °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 19930825031079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930825031079A), Aug 25, 1993: Cessna U206B, Challis, ID, Substantial damage. Landed hard on remote airstrip. Blamed downdraft.

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.