ANC16LA038

Factual narrative

On July 3, 2016, about 1753 Alaska daylight time, an amphibious float-equipped Cessna 206 airplane, N6251K, sustained substantial damage after impacting trees and the tidal ocean waters of Halibut Cove, Alaska, about 11 miles southeast of Homer, Alaska. The private pilot, the sole occupant on board, sustained no injuries. The airplane was registered to Umailik LLC, Anchorage, Alaska and operated by the pilot as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 visual flight rules personal cross-country flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed. The airplane departed the Homer Airport (HOM) about 1742 destined for Halibut Cove. A witness described watching the float-equipped airplane as it approached the inland waters of Halibut Cove, and just after the floats contacted the surface of the water, the airplane immediately became airborne again, and it began to climb. When the airplane reached an altitude of about 40 feet above the water, it started a steep left turn and continued climbing until it struck a stand of tall trees. Following the impact, the airplane descended into the waters of Halibut Cove, where good Samaritans came to the aid of the pilot. An additional witness who was on a tour vessel operating in Halibut Cove at the time of the accident stated that, as the airplane flew towards their tour boat, the airplane subsequently made a slight turn towards the vessel before passing off the right side and impacting trees. The airplane then descended into the water, about 100 feet from the tour boat. Several photographs were captured by witnesses on the tour vessel and provided to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC). The first two photographs show the airplane about 20 feet above glassy water conditions, in a wings level, flaps extended configuration. The next two photographs show the airplane in a climbing left turn, with a slight water spray trailing from the keel of the left float, followed by a wings level, slightly nose high climb. The airplane's wing flaps remain extended. The last photograph in the sequence shows the airplane impacting a stand of tall spruce tree, which severed the floats, and damaged the left wing's leading edge. At the time of impact with the stand of trees, the airplane's wing flaps appear to be retracted. (An array of accident sequence photos are provided in the NTSB public docket for this accident) In the pilot's written statement to the NTSB, she reported that during the accident landing, she inadvertently touched down faster than anticipated, and prior to her expected touchdown point, which caused the airplane to bounce. She wrote that instead of trying to salvage the landing, she attempted a go-around. Due to a high nose up attitude during the climb-out, she was unable to see in front of the airplane and subsequently impacted a tree. The pilot stated there were no mechanical failures that would have precluded normal operation. According to the NTSB form 6120.1 submitted by the pilot, her last biennial flight review was completed September 15, 2013, in the same make and model as the accident airplane. The closest weather reporting facility was HOM, about 11 miles northwest of the accident site. At 1753, a HOM METAR reported in part, wind from 260° at 9 knots, gusting to 14 knots; sky condition, broken clouds at 2,600 ft; visibility, 10 statute miles; temperature 61°F, dewpoint 48°F; altimeter setting 29.92 inches of mercury. The private pilot was landing an amphibious airplane in the ocean waters of an inland cove. Photographs of the accident sequence showed the water conditions as relatively calm and glassy. The pilot reported that the airplane touched down faster than anticipated and before her intended touchdown point, which subsequently caused the airplane to bounce back into the air. Instead of continuing the landing, she attempted a go-around. As the airplane climbed in a nose-high attitude, she was unable to see over the nose of the airplane and collided with a stand of tall spruce trees. Witnesses stated that after impact, the airplane descended into the water, resulting in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

• C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
• C Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Tree(s)-Ability to respond/compensate - C