# NTSB SEA95LA197: Cessna 206, N120TH, Spokane, WA, August 30, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 30, 1995, 16:40 local (23:40 UTC)
- Place: Spokane, WA
- Location: 47.6588° N, 117.4260° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Spokane, WA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.6588&lon=-117.4260&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor, 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 29, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 42235
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA95LA197
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42235/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA95LA197

## Probable cause

the pilot's failure to maintain airspeed while trying to clear a transmission wire. Factors include a transmission wire near the end of the takeoff area and glassy water.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - water,glassy (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - high obstruction(s) (contributing factor)
  - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

The pilot experienced a longer than expected takeoff run because of difficulty getting the aircraft's floats to lift from the glassy water. After becoming airborne, and while he was attempting to clear a transmission wire near the end of the takeoff area, the aircraft stalled/mushed into the terrain.

## Factual narrative

On August 30, 1995, approximately 1640 Pacific daylight time (PDT), a float-equipped Cessna 206, N120TH, collided with the terrain just after takeoff from a river near Spokane, Washington. The private pilot and the front seat passenger received minor injuries, both rear seat passengers were uninjured, and the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The personal pleasure flight, which was departing the Spokane River for Flathead Lake, Montana, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. No flight plan had been filed, and there was no report of an ELT activation.

According to the FAA inspector who interviewed the pilot at the scene of the accident, the pilot had trouble getting the floats to lift from the glassy water, and therefore experienced a longer than expected takeoff run. After getting airborne, he attempted to clear some power lines in the aircraft's path. During this sequence, the aircraft stalled and impacted the rocky shoreline of the river.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N120TH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N120TH-2015-05-05), registration cancelled 2015-05-05, S/N U2060537, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 206
- Registry model: [Cessna TU206A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-tu206a) (registry code 2073318) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: U2060537
- Airframe hours: 5280
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-RCO 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Brooks, Ken B.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, May 5, 1995, 60 hours before
- Departed: WA
- Destination: FLATHEAD LAKE, MT

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 27; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 162 total, 40 in this make and model, 96 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 29 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °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 19950830027119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950830027119A), Aug 30, 1995: Cessna U206A, Spokane, WA, Substantial damage. Float plane trouble lifting from glassy water causing late liftoff. Stalled avoiding power lines. Impacted shore.

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.

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