# NTSB WPR26LA117: Cessna T206H, N465CS, Lewiston, ID, January 18, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 18, 2026, 09:14 local (17:14 UTC) - Place: Lewiston, ID - Coordinates: 46.374499, -117.01539 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.3745&lon=-117.0154&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: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 30, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 202593 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26LA117 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202593/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202593 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA117 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in hard, bounced landing and subsequent tail strike. ## 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) ## 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: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Cessna T206H, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2073303), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Tailstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091); cases with it: [Cessna T206H, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091/sequence.md?model=2073303), [All aircraft, 124 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the airplane reported that after descending through a cloud layer on an instrument approach, he acquired the airport environment and continued the approach to land in visual meteorological conditions. During the landing flare, the airplane landed hard and then bounced. On subsequent landing the empennage struck the runway surface, followed by the nose wheel, which resulted in a tire blowout. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N465CS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N465CS), registered now, S/N T20609165, built 2015 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA T206H - Registry model: [Cessna T206H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t206h) (registry code 2073303) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TIO-540-AJ1A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-tio-540-aj1a) (registry code 42004, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: T20609165 - Year built: 2015 - Engines: Lycoming TIO-540-AJ1A 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 9, 2025, 1,191.8 hours before - Departed: 8S4, Enterprise, OR - Destination: Same as departure - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: LWS, Lewiston/Nez Perce County, runway 26, 6,511 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Stall warning system, Electronic primary flight display, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 523 total, 458 in this make and model, 448 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.33 inHg - Observed at: LWS - METAR: KLWS 231656Z 29004KT 10SM OVC035 M01/M04 A3033 RMK AO2 SLP288 T10061044 $= ## 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 20260118001309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260118001309A), Jan 18, 2026: Cessna T206H, Lewiston, ID, Substantial damage. On 2026-01-18, airman conducted IFR flight from enterprise, or (864) to Lewiston, ID (klws). After transitioning to VFR conditions from instrument approach;… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 30, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202593. 4.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 3.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20107985&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR26LA117%206120.1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 456 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20109692&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photographs-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.