Cessna T206H accident near Lovell, Maine, August 4, 2007
On August 4, 2007 at about 2:00 pm local time, a Cessna T206H, registered N206MW, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lovell, Maine. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed, 1 person was seriously injured and 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to retract the amphibious floatplane's landing gear during a water landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 4, 2007 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Lovell, Maine · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed, 1 person was seriously injured and 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T206H · all T206Hs on the register
- Registration
- N206MW · registry record · serial T20608091
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the passengers, the personal flight was for the purpose of sightseeing around the local area. They flew in an amphibious floatplane to a lake about 15 minutes from their departure point, and attempted a water landing. During the landing, the airplane came to rest inverted and sank, killing the pilot. According to the airplane's flight manual supplement, the airplane was equipped with an amphibian landing gear position advisory system. The aural announcements were "gear is up for water landing" and "gear is down for runway landing." The advisories can be cancelled by pressing an amber annunciator light. According to the passengers, as they approached the water, they recalled hearing a male voice speaking. They were not sure what it meant, but then they saw the pilot push a button. The wreckage examination revealed, and witnesses observed that the landing gear was in the extended position during landing. When the airplane touched down on the water, the airplane bounced and immediately nosed over inverted. Toxicological testing on the pilot was positive for metoprolol and quinine. Metoprolol is a prescription medication commonly used to control high blood pressure, and typically approved by the Federal Aviation Administration for that purpose. It is also used for the treatment of certain serious heart conditions. Quinine is found in tonic water, and is used to treat severe malaria. It is also commonly used to reduce the frequency of nocturnal leg cramps (a condition which may cause painful leg muscle spasm at night), and is available in an over-the-counter nutritional supplement marketed for this purpose.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,717 hours in all
- Last flight review: April 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 766.2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 2007; 128.7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-AJ1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Fryeburg ME at 1:50 pm
- Destination: NONE Lovell ME
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 4 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 1:54 pm from IZG, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.