# NTSB WPR24LA303: Cessna T206H, N379ME, Big Bend-Gold Bar, WA, August 30, 2024

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: August 30, 2024, 11:27 local (18:27 UTC)
- Place: Big Bend-Gold Bar, WA · Lake Isabel
- Coordinates: 47.865127, -121.60136 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.8651&lon=-121.6014&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 195105
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR24LA303
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/195105/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195105
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA303

## Probable cause

The pilot’s improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna T206H, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2073303), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna T206H, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2073303), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna T206H, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2073303), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Landing gear system: wheel/ski/float](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023246): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Capability exceeded; cases with it: [Cessna T206H, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023246/cases.md?model=2073303), [All aircraft, 48 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023246/cases.md)
- [Environmental issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03030000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel; cases with it: [Cessna T206H, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03030000/cases.md?model=2073303), [All aircraft, 57 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03030000/cases.md)
- [Perception/orientation/illusion: visual illusion/disorientation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022015): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot; cases with it: [Cessna T206H, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022015/cases.md?model=2073303), [All aircraft, 51 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022015/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna T206H, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2073303), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cessna T206H, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2073303), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the amphibious airplane reported that during the approach to a lake over glassy water, he misjudged the height of the airplane above the water’s surface. He reported that he “had no sense of depth perception” and the airplane impacted the water when he thought it was about 10 ft above the surface. The pilot chose to set the airplane on the water surface to avoid departing with possible damage. However, the airplane handed hard and the float struts collapsed, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N379ME](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N379ME-2025-12-27), registration cancelled 2025-12-27, S/N T20608229, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA T206H
- Registry model: [Cessna T206H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t206h) (registry code 2073303) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: T20608229
- Year built: 2000
- Airframe hours: 800
- Engines: Lycoming TIO-540-SER reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: Bellevue, WA
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: none
- Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Handheld GPS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 22, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,714 total, 59 in this make and model, 1,578 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observed at: KAWO, 29 nm away
- METAR: METAR KAWO 301856Z AUTO VRB04KT 10SM CLR 23/16 A3012 RMK AO2 SLP203 T02280156=

## 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 20240830015909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240830015909A), Aug 30, 2024: Cessna T206H, Gold Bar, WA, Substantial damage. Aircraft made a hard landing on lake isabel, the intended destination, due to glassy water conditions that caused poor pilot depth perception. The pilot stated…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 13, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195105. 3.2 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17818861&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%206120%20flat_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 991 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17818725&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.

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