Cessna 206 accident near Halibut Cove, Alaska, July 4, 2016
On July 4, 2016 at about 1:53 am local time, a 2008 Cessna 206, registered N6251K, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (aborted after touchdown) near Halibut Cove, Alaska (Homer airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees during an attempted go-around.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 4, 2016 · about 1:53 am local time
- Place
- Halibut Cove, Alaska · Homer · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 206, built 2008 · all 206s on the register
- Registration
- N6251K · registry record · serial T20608832
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
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 (aborted after touchdown)
- Collision during takeoff/land during landing (aborted after touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Ability to respond/compensate
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 700 hours in all; 670 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 400 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 15, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 6, 2016
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-AJ1A (piston); 830 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HOM Homer AK
- Destination: Halibut Cove AK
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 9 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,600 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 am from PAHO, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
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.