Cessna T206H accident near Watkins, Colorado, May 2, 2001
On May 2, 2001 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Cessna T206H, registered N72582, was substantially damaged in an accident near Watkins, Colorado (Front Range airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to maintain the proper decent rate during the flare resulting in a hard landing. Contributing factors icing conditions and accumulations of wing ice.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 2, 2001 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Watkins, Colorado · Front Range · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T206H · all T206Hs on the register
- Registration
- N72582 · registry record · serial T20608114
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While in cruise flight, the airplane encountered icing conditions. The pilot contacted ARTCC and requested various altitudes to avoid further icing. However, the airplane was unable to maintain altitude, and the pilot requested vectors to the nearest airport. Approach control cleared him to intercept the ILS. At approximately 15 feet above the ground, he flared and the airplane "dropped hard onto the runway." As he added power, the airplane drifted to the left and struck a runway and a taxiway light. The pilot stated that he was able to taxi the airplane back onto the runway and then park it on the ramp. An initial inspection of the airplane revealed that it had an accumulation of ice on the leading edges of both wings, that in some places was up to as much as 2 and 1/2 inches thick.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 500 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 34 in the last 90 days; 34 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: March 31, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 300 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 12, 2000; 60 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,617 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-AJIA (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Y14 Tea SD at 4:00 pm
- Destination: APA Englewood CO
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 26, 8,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 2.5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 10 ft
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.