Cessna TU206G N818CT

Summary

On 20 August 2008 at about 16:15 local time, a Cessna TU206G registered N818CT, operated by Charles D Hartwell, was involved in an accident near Groveland, California, United States. 4 people were on board and 4 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

20 August 2008 at 16:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Groveland, California, United States

Nearest airport

Cherry Lake

Coordinates

38.0069, -119.9050

Aircraft

Cessna TU206G

Registration

N818CT

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Charles D Hartwell

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Columbia → Groveland

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX08LA281

4 people had minor injuries.

The pilot's failure to ensure that the landing gear was retracted prior to the water landing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that after takeoff in the amphibious airplane, he retracted the landing gear. The flight to the destination airport was uneventful, and upon arriving at the destination landing area (a lake), he set up for a standard approach, reduced his airspeed to 90 knots, and input 10 degrees of flaps. He said he checked that the landing gear lever was in the up position for the water landing and noted four blue lights indicating that the landing gear was retracted. The pilot stated that in "the black glass water [he] lost depth perception," and stopped the descent to head for the shoreline to set up for a "glass water landing." He further reduced his airspeed another 35 knots and identified a suitable stretch of water near the shoreline to set up for another landing. The pilot reported that about 25 feet above ground level (agl) and 60 knots, he applied the "'three P's' pitch-power-patience, procedure for a glass water landing." The pilot stated that on touchdown the airplane "skipped" to the right, and he corrected back to the left. The airplane then nosed over and sank inverted. Recovery personnel reported that the landing gear were found in the down position, and the circuit breakers for the landing gear system and the landing gear advisory system were in the OPEN positions. The landing gear handle was found in the UP position. An examination and functional check of the Wipaire Wipline 3730 amphibious floats electrical system was performed, which included a check of the airspeed actuated landing gear advisory system and aural warning alarm. Inspection of the landing gear retraction and extension system found no defects. At the conclusion of the testing, no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the landing gear and associated electrical warning system was found.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.