Cessna 180B accident near Forest Lake, Minnesota, October 28, 2006
On October 28, 2006 at about 4:07 pm local time, a Cessna 180B, registered N9117T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Forest Lake, Minnesota (Forest Lake airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the altitude/clearance with terrain not maintained by the pilot.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 28, 2006 · about 4:07 pm local time
- Place
- Forest Lake, Minnesota · Forest Lake · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180B · all 180Bs on the register
- Registration
- N9117T · registry record · serial 18050617
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The floatplane contacted a lake surface during cruise flight and both floats separated from the airplane. Both unrestrained rear seat passengers were ejected from the airplane through the right door which opened in-flight when the right float separated from the airplane. The pilot stated his preflight inspection of the airplane noted no problems with the airplane or its flight controls. He stated that the airplane was not flying as "it usually does" since it "ate up a lot of lake" during the takeoff and he had to "horse" the airplane off the water to get it airborne. Examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies 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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 3,200 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 3,200 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,041 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2006
- Maximum gross weight: 2,820 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-L-C-K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Forest Lake MN at 4:03 pm
- Destination: PVT Forest Lake MN
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.78 inHg
- Observation at 4:36 pm from ROS, 27 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 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.