SEA95LA106

The pilot approached runway 7 for landing. He reported that the wind was from the northeast at 10 knots. During the landing, the nose gear touched down first and the airplane bounced. The propeller contacted the runway surface, followed by the left wing. The pilot was unable to maintain directional control of the airplane, and the airplane skidded off the runway and into a ditch. The left wing was substantially damaged. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions. No evidence of pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or landing gear damage was found during an examination of the wreckage.

On May 24, 1995, about 1130 hours Pacific daylight time, N1LF, a Cessna 206, operated by Grangeville Air Services, Inc., collided with a ditch during landing and was substantially damaged in Grangeville, Idaho. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The positioning flight departed from Moose Creek, Idaho, and was conducted under 14 CFR 91.

According to the pilot:

On turning final for Runway 7 I increased flaps to 40 degrees and slowed to 70 knots. I then reduced power and speed to 65 knots. I let it settle and touched the main gear down. The left wing started to come up. I put in left [aileron] and right rudder. The left main gear touched back down. Still straight on the center line I let the nose wheel down. Immediately when the nose wheel touched it went to the right [severely]. I stood on the left rudder and brake but it would not correct. The right wing came up and the prop hit the ground. The plane proceeded for the ditch and I was unable to stop.

The pilot also reported that the winds were out of the northeast at 10 knots. He did not report any mechanical malfunctions.

According to an FAA aviation safety inspector from Renton, Washington, an examination of the runway surface immediately following the accident revealed the presence a nose gear tire skid mark at the reported initial touchdown area of the runway. Subsequent to this skid mark, and along the direction of landing, paint transfer from the left wing tip and gouges/slices from the propeller were found on the asphalt. Further down the runway, more evidence of nose gear tire skid marks and gouges/slices were found. Skid marks from the main landing gear were then found further down the runway, these marks rapidly curved off the southern edge of the runway towards a ditch. The right main tire of the airplane dropped into the ditch.

The inspector reported that the inboard portion of the left wing was substantially damaged. No evidence of pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or landing gear damage was found by the inspector.