# NTSB WPR20FA206: Cessna TU206, N6373U, Coeur d'Alene, ID, July 5, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report - Date: July 5, 2020, 14:22 local (21:22 UTC) - Place: Coeur d'Alene, ID - Coordinates: 47.519165, -116.82638 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.5192&lon=-116.8264&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining events: [Enroute: Midair collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250); [Enroute: Midair collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 8 fatal - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Textron Aviation, FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 101532 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR20FA206 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101532/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101532 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20FA206 ## Probable cause (aircraft 1) The failure of the pilots of both airplanes to see and avoid the other airplane. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause), aircraft 1; cases with it: [Cessna TU206G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540/cases.md?model=2073357), [All aircraft, 231 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause), aircraft 2; cases with it: [Dehavilland DHC-2 MK. I(L20A), 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540/cases.md?model=2808002), [All aircraft, 231 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Midair collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250) (defining event), aircraft 1; cases with it: [Cessna TU206G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250/sequence.md?model=2073357), [All aircraft, 196 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Midair collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250) (defining event), aircraft 2; cases with it: [Dehavilland DHC-2 MK. I(L20A), 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250/sequence.md?model=2808002), [All aircraft, 196 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250/sequence.md) ## Analysis (aircraft 1) The float-equipped De Havilland DHC-2 was on a tour flight, and the Cessna 206 was on a personal flight. The airplanes collided in midair over a lake during day visual meteorological conditions. No radar or automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast data were available for either airplane. Witnesses reported that the airplanes were flying directly toward each other before they collided about 700 to 800 ft above the water. Other witnesses reported that the Cessna was at a lower altitude and had initiated a climb before the collision. Review of 2 seconds of video captured as part of a witness’ “live” photo showed that both airplanes appeared to be in level flight before the collision. No evidence of any preexisting mechanical malfunction was observed with either airplane. Recovered wreckage and impact signatures were consistent with the upper fuselage of the Cessna colliding with the floats and the lower fuselage of the De Havilland. The impact angle could not be determined due to the lack of available evidence, including unrecovered wreckage. The available evidence was consistent with both pilots’ failure to see and avoid the other airplane. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 1) Title 14 CFR 91.113, Right-of-way rules: Except water operations, noted the following: When weather conditions permit, regardless of whether an operation is conducted under instrument flight rules or visual flight rules, vigilance shall be maintained by each person operating an aircraft so as to see and avoid other aircraft…. When two or more aircraft are approaching an airport for the purpose of landing, the aircraft at the lower altitude has the right-of-way, but it shall not take advantage of this rule to cut in front of another which is on final approach to land or to overtake that aircraft. The Federal Aviation Administration Airplane Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-3C) noted the following: All pilots should be alert to the potential for midair collision and impending loss of separation. The general operating and flight rules in 14 CFR part 91 set forth the concept of ‘see and avoid.’ This concept requires that vigilance shall be maintained at all times by each person operating an aircraft regardless of whether the operation is conducted under IFR [instrument flight rules] or VFR [visual flight rules]…. Most of these accidents/incidents occur within 5 miles of an airport and/or near navigation aids. On July 5, 2020, about 1422 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna TU206G, N6373U, and a De Havilland DHC-2 MK1 (L20A), N2106K, were destroyed when they were involved in an accident near Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. The Cessna pilot and passenger and the De Havilland pilot and five passengers were fatally injured. The Cessna was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight. The De Havilland was operated as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 air tour flight. Friends of the Cessna pilot reported that the flight departed from Coeur d'Alene Airport with an intended destination of Lewiston-Nez Perce County Airport, Lewiston, Idaho. The operator of the float-equipped De Havilland reported that the 20-minute local air tour flight originated from the seaplane base located on the northern part of Lake Coeur d'Alene. Witnesses located near the accident site reported that they observed the De Havilland flying on a northerly heading and the Cessna on a southerly heading, as shown in figure 1. The witnesses reported that both airplanes appeared to be about 700 to 800 ft above the water surface when they collided over the lake. Two witnesses located along the western side of the lake reported that the Cessna was at a lower altitude and that it had begun to climb before the collision. After the collision, witnesses observed a fireball as both airplanes descended into the water. No radar or automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast data were available for either airplane. Figure 1. Still image from live capture of the Cessna and De Havilland airplanes before the collision. (Source: Kim Sprenger) Autopsies of both pilots were performed by the Spokane County Office of the Medical Examiner, Spokane, Washington. The Cessna pilot’s cause of death was bluntimpact. The De Havilland pilot’s cause of death was multiple blunt injuries. Toxicology testing performed at the Federal Aviation Administration Forensic Sciences Laboratory found no drugs of abuse in either pilot’s specimens. The wreckage of both airplanes was submerged in about 130 ft of water near the center of the lake between Half Round Bay and Black Rock Bay, as indicated in figure 2. The underwater debris path was about 900 ft in length. Figure 2. Accident site location. Examination of the recovered wreckage of the Cessna revealed mechanical impact damage and a puncture in the forward spar on the left wing between wing stations (WS) 72 and 76. Blue paint transfer was identified on the structure around the puncture. Linear scratch marks with blue paint transfer were observed on the lower skin between about WS 35 and 70. The scratch marks appeared to slightly curve inboard but were oriented about 30° from the longitudinal axis. The left-wing strut exhibited blue paint transfer from 51 to 72 inches below the upper end of the strut. The lower fuselage and floor structure from fuselage station (FS) 0 to the tail was mostly intact. The left side of the fuselage from FS 65 to the tail was mostly intact. The left-side pilot door and right-side cargo doors had separated and were not located. The right side of the fuselage was mostly intact from FS 0 to 68.3 and from FS 112 to the tail. The upper portion of the fuselage was present from FS 65 to the tail. The fuselage structure between the instrument panel and aft cargo door was missing along a distinct angular line from left to right and with an angle of about 30°. A linear area of cut damage was observed in the cabin roof structure that exhibited curled fuselage skin and was oriented about 20° from the longitudinal axis. A small area at the end of the cut exhibited saw tooth fractures. The vertical stabilizer and rudder remained attached to the empennage. A mechanical cut in the vertical stabilizer exhibited curled metal from left to right, consistent with a propeller strike, and extended from the aft spar vertically to the leading edge of the stabilizer. The upper rudder hinge was pulled from the rudder. The engine, engine mount, propeller assembly, and right wing were not present at the time of the wreckage examination. Examination of the recovered wreckage of the De Havilland revealed that the cabin area (center section of the fuselage) was fractured into multiple pieces with varying levels of damage. Evidence of a flash fire was found between FS 8 and 76. Two mechanical cuts were identified in the lower fuselage on the right side of the fuselage centerline; the edges of the cuts showed inward deformation. The fuel tank was punctured and exhibited inward deformation and mechanical cut damage to the tank skin. The mechanical cuts of the fuselage and fuel tank were parallel and offset 20° from the longitudinal axis. The floats and most of the float struts were not recovered. No evidence of anypreexisting mechanical malfunction was observed in the recovered wreckage that would have precluded normal operation of either airplane. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N6373U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6373U-2021-01-20), registration cancelled 2021-01-20, S/N U20605457 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna TU206 - Registry model: [Cessna TU206G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-tu206g) (registry code 2073357) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: U20605457 - Airframe hours: 6540.6 - Engines: Continental TSIO-520-AFCM 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 15, 2019 - Departed: Coeur d'Alene, ID - Destination: KLWS, Lewison, ID - Equipment: Unknown ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N2106K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2106K-2021-09-04), registration cancelled 2021-09-04, S/N 1131, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: De Havilland DHC-2 - Registry model: [Dehavilland DHC-2 MK. I(L20A)](https://openairdocs.org/model/dehavilland-dhc-2-mk-i-l20a) (registry code 2808002) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-985 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (registry code 52008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1131 - Year built: 1956 - Airframe hours: 6171 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R985 AN14B 400 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91 - Operator: Brooks Seaplane Service Inc - Registered owner: Brooks Seaplane Service Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 19, 2020 - Departed: Coeur d'Alene, ID - Destination: Coeur d'Alene, ID ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N6373U; age 66; injuries: fatal; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; toxicology performed; flight hours: 20,000 total - Pilot, aircraft N2106K; age 58; injuries: fatal; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 20, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; toxicology performed; flight hours: 21,173 total, 217 in this make and model, 18,493 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: KCOE, 15 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (2) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20200705009672A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200705009672A), Jul 5, 2020: Cessna TU206G, Coeur D'Alene, ID, Destroyed, 2 fatal. The Cessna 206 was flying from Coeur d?alane airport down to lewiston Idaho airport, and flew over lake Coeur d?alane when it collided with a dehaviland beaver… - [Accident 20200705009682A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200705009682A), Jul 5, 2020: Dehavilland DHC-2 MK. I(L20A), Coeur D'Alene, ID, Destroyed, 6 fatal. The dehaviland beaver was conducting flight tour over lake Coeur d?alane with five passengers. The operator is [privacy data omitted], an authorized part… ## Docket (17 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 24, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101532. 18.7 MB in all. - Personal electronic devices - specialist's factual report_WPR20FA206AB (item 1, PDF, 2 pages, 215 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13316936&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Personal%20Electronic%20Devices%20-%20Specialist%27s%20Factual%20Report_WPR20FA206AB-Rel.pdf - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 2, PDF, 10 pages, 5.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14142349&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Accident%20Report1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Witness interviews (item 3, PDF, 8 pages, 3 photos, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14142556&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Witness%20Group%20Interviews_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Attorney provided witness statements (item 4, PDF, 8 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14142329&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Attorney%20Provided%20Witness%20Statements_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Witness provided photo review (item 5, PDF, 3 pages, 2 photos, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14316126&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=1Witness%20Photo%20Review_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation - owner of the Cessna 206 representative (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 122 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14143153&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20Deatley-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation - friend of the Cessna 206 pilot (item 7, PDF, 1 page, 122 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14142880&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20Peters-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation - Cessna 206 mechanic (item 8, PDF, 1 page, 120 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14142635&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20Gustin-Rel.pdf - Wife of the Dehavilland pilot statement (item 9, PDF, 20 pages, 47 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14143163&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR20FA206_AnneLunt_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Son of the Dehavilland pilot statement (item 10, PDF, 15 pages, 36 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14142645&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR20FA206_NoahLunt%20Redacted-Rel.pdf - NTSB airframes examination summary report (item 11, PDF, 8 pages, 3 photos, 704 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14143498&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Airframes%20Examination%20Summary-Rel.pdf - Autopsy memo (item 12, PDF, 1 page, 120 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14143442&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Autopsy%20Memo-Rel.pdf - Statement of party representatives to NTSB investigation - Textron (item 13, PDF, 1 page, 540 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14143329&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=party%20form_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 14, PDF, 2 pages, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14142576&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=signed%20release%20206_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 15, PDF, 6 pages, 6 photos, 2.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14242589&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%201-Rel.pdf - Toxicological report - Cessna 206 pilot (item 16, PDF, 1 page, 342 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14390143&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=206%20tox_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Toxicological report - de havilland DHC-2 pilot (item 17, PDF, 1 page, 356 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14390512&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=dhc%20tox_Redacted-Rel.pdf 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.