Cessna T206H accident near Gilford, New Hampshire, April 22, 2014
On April 22, 2014 at about 4:30 pm local time, a 2000 Cessna T206H, registered N262ME, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Gilford, New Hampshire. 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 misjudged the float equipped airplane's altitude while maneuvering above the surface of a lake, which resulted in a float inadvertently contacting the water. Contributing to the accident were the glassy water conditions and pilot's lack of recent experience in amphibious airplanes.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 22, 2014 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Gilford, New Hampshire · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T206H, built 2000 · all T206Hs on the register
- Registration
- N262ME · no longer on the register · serial T20608198
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the float equipped airplane reported that he intended to practice water landings and operations after about 7 months of seaplane inactivity due to winter. He was flying above a lake with glassy water conditions surveying the surface for ice or other hazards when the airplane's floats inadvertently contacted the water "a bit harder" then normal. The pilot elected to reduce engine power and attempted to land; however, the airplane nosed over into the water, and subsequently sank. Postaccident examination of the airplane did not reveal any abnormalities that would have precluded normal operation. The right float displayed evidence of contact with the propeller and the aft portion of the fuselage, near the empennage was substantially damaged. The pilot reported about 1,400 hours of total flight experience; which included about 50 hours in the same make and model as the accident airplane. In addition, he reported 21 landings on water during the 12 months that preceded the accident, with the most recent water landing about 7 months prior.
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
What happened, in order
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
- Abnormal runway contact during landing defining event
- Nose over/nose down during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- factor Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › Glassy › Effect on operation
- factor Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Recent experience › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,392 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: July 24, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 607 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 6, 2014; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,605 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming TI0-540 SER (piston); 533 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FIT Fitchburg MA at 4:00 pm
- Destination: Gilford NH
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.55 inHg
- Observation at 4:35 pm from LCI, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on May 28, 2014. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Interview Memorandum - FAA | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photo 1. Airplane in Water (Photo Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photo 2. Airplane During Recovery (Photo Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Photo 3. Aft Fuselage Damage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.