Cessna U206G accident near Homer, Alaska, July 11, 2012
On July 11, 2012 at about 5:45 am local time, a Cessna U206G, registered N206VR, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Homer, Alaska (Beluga Lake Seaplane Base airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 4 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s improper evaluation of the weather conditions and his subsequent downwind water landing in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in a nose-over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 11, 2012 · about 5:45 am local time
- Place
- Homer, Alaska · Beluga Lake Seaplane Base · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 4 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna U206G · all U206Gs on the register
- Registration
- N206VR · no longer on the register · serial U20604872
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that while landing in a southerly direction on a lake, a gust of wind lifted the left wing just after touchdown, and the right wing struck the water. The airplane nosed over abruptly, and the cabin immediately filled with water. The pilot estimated the wind to be from 130 degrees at 10 knots, with peak gusts between 12 to 14 knots. However, a pilot-rated witness who observed the accident from the southeastern shoreline of the lake reported that the wind was strong and gusty out of the northeast at 20 to 25 knots at the time. He thought the accident airplane was on a downwind leg, but it was on final approach. He said that the airplane had a very fast ground speed and touched down slightly nose down in a left-float-low attitude. The nose of the left float dug into the water, the left wing struck the water, and the airplane rapidly nosed over. A postaccident examination revealed no evidence of a mechanical malfunction or failure with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. Based on the pilot-rated witness’s statement and the damage to the airplane and its floats, it is likely that the pilot misjudged the wind conditions and landed with a strong, gusty tailwind. The airplane then contacted the rough water with the left float low and nosed over. On this airplane, the right rear cargo door is blocked by the wing flap when it is extended. After the accident, the pilot and three of the passengers were able to egress the airplane by bending that door and sliding through the small opening that they created. The fourth passenger was unable to exit through the door; however, due to the nature of her injuries, it is unlikely that the blocked exit contributed to her death.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Loss of control on ground during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Awareness of condition
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Contributed to outcome
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,000 hours in all; 125 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 5,800 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 14, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,344 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2012
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor IO 520 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PAEN Kenai AK
- Destination: 5BL Homer AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 3,000 ft by 600 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 14 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,800 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.