Cessna TU206G accident near Coeur D'Alene, Idaho, July 1, 2008
On July 1, 2008 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Cessna TU206G, registered N4776U, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Coeur D'Alene, Idaho (Private Strip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain proper runway alignment and clearance from a large rock on the side of the runway. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the pilot to maintain the runway environment of his private strip clear of obstructions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 1, 2008 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Coeur D'Alene, Idaho · Private Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna TU206G · all TU206Gs on the register
- Registration
- N4776U · registry record · serial U20605096
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the departure roll, as the airplane became airborne, the left main landing gear collided with a large rock on the left side of the pilot's private airstrip. From the cockpit the pilot visually confirmed that the damage seemed to be confined to the left wheel fairing, which was torn off, but could not discern any other damage. The airplane operated normally and the pilot landed without further incident. After landing, the pilot noted that the left tire was flat and the left main landing gear strut was damaged, including the gear box. The pilot stated that accident could have been prevented if he had ensured there were no rocks on the airstrip, and if he had maintained runway centerline. The pilot added that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine.
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 takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Main landing gear › Damaged/degraded
- Environmental issues › Operating environment › Airport facilities/design › Runway/landing area condition › Not specified
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Heading/course › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,880 hours in all; 1,200 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: January 1, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,632 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 2007
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Monument OR
- Destination: COE Coeur D'Alene ID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 10, 1,500 ft by 20 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 4:50 pm from GCD
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N4776U the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.