Cessna TU206G accident near Taohoma, California, July 28, 1985
On July 28, 1985 at about 1:20 am local time, a Cessna TU206G, registered N6277Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Taohoma, California (Homewood airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 28, 1985 · about 1:20 am local time
- Place
- Taohoma, California · Homewood
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna TU206G · all TU206Gs on the register
- Registration
- N6277Z · registry record · serial U20606211
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ON JULY 27, 1985 A FLOAT EQUIPPED CESSNA TU206G LANDED ON CHOPPY WATER, NOSED OVER AND SANK AT THE SEAPLANE BASE IN LAKE TAHOE, CA. THE PILOT AND 1 PASSENGER WERE NOT INJURED. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT TIME WATER CONDITIONS WERE MODERATE CHOP WITH WAVES 2 TO 5 FT IN HEIGHT AND 20 KNOT WINDS. THE PILOT STATED THAT THEN 5 TO 6 FT ABOVE THE WATER, THE SEAT SLID BACK CAUSING THE CONTROL YOKE TO COME BACK. THE TAIL NOSED OVER INTO THE WATER AND SANK.
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: 780 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 80 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 740 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 560 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 2, 1984; 234 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SJC San Jose CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0, 15,000 ft by 400 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 20 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.
Other NTSB records under N6277Z 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.