Cessna 206H accident near New Richmond, Wisconsin, February 15, 2001
On February 15, 2001 at about 6:15 pm local time, a Cessna 206H, registered N55PY, was substantially damaged in an accident near New Richmond, Wisconsin (New Richmond Municipal 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 was unable to maintain directional control of the airplane when it contacted a patch of ice during the landing roll. Factors associated with the accident were the ice and the snow bank which the airplane contacted and the pilot inadvertantly landed on a taxiway instead of a runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 15, 2001 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- New Richmond, Wisconsin · New Richmond Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 206H · all 206Hs on the register
- Registration
- N55PY · no longer on the register · serial 20608051
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane nosed over after contacting a snow bank during landing. The pilot reported he landed the airplane on a newly installed taxiway, which he mistook for the runway. The airplane contacted an icy section on the taxiway and slid to the left. The pilot reported he added a little power in an attempt to regain directional control, however, the airplane contacted a snow bank and nosed over. The airplane contacted an icy section on the taxiway and slid to the left. The pilot reported he added a little power in an attempt to regain directional control, however, the airplane contacted a snow bank and nosed over. The pilot reported, "Main runway was totally snow covered and looked from air like groomed snow strip for ski planes." Runway 32 is 4,003 feet by 75 feet. The newly installed taxiway is 4,000 feet by 35 feet and it parallels runway 32. The new taxiway was not depicted in the Flight Guide, or in the 1999-2000 Wisconsin Airport Directory at the time of the accident. According to the pilot, it also is not listed in the updated Garmin 530 or the Official Airport Directory. According to the airport manager, the taxiway was opened on November 21, 2000. He stated that the pavement on the new taxiway is darker then the runway, and the ice and snow melted off of it quicker. He also stated that there was a NOTAM issued through October, 2000, which reported the taxiway was closed. He stated that once it was opened, another NOTAM was issued, for approximately a 2 week period, stating that the taxiway was commissioned. The airport manager also stated there was a NOTAM at the time of the accident stating that there was snow and ice on the aprons and taxiways.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 145 hours in all; 12 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 90 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 15, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 200 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 18, 2000; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Avco Lycoming IO-540-AC1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ANE Minneapolis MN at 5:00 pm
- Destination: RNH New Richmond WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 4,006 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 18°F (-8°C), dew point 7°F (-14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 6:56 pm from RNH
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.