Cessna 206H accident near Lutsen, Minnesota, July 22, 2006
On July 22, 2006 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Cessna 206H, registered N52728, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lutsen, Minnesota. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The unsuitable terrain the pilot encountered during takeoff in rough water. A factor was the wave in the rough water.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 22, 2006 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Lutsen, Minnesota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 206H · all 206Hs on the register
- Registration
- N52728 · no longer on the register · serial 20608185
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The amphibian airplane sustained substantial damage during takeoff when its float encountered a wave. The pilot stated, "As airspeed increased, the aircraft encountered slightly larger waves and as airspeed approached rotation speed, began hitting the crests of the waves. Just before rotation, a snap was heard and takeoff was immediately aborted. As the aircraft quickly decelerated, the front pilot side float strut pierced through the fuselage by pilot rudder pedals and the whole float assembly collapsed."
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,100 hours in all; 1,100 in this make and model; 2,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 565 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 2005
- Maximum gross weight: 3,792 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-AC1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Lutsen MN at 6:45 pm
- Destination: Ontario
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 1:55 pm from CKC
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.