Cessna TU 206G accident near Clear Lake, California, August 17, 1999
On August 17, 1999 at about 11:09 pm local time, a Cessna TU 206G, registered N206RR, was substantially damaged in an accident near Clear Lake, California (Clear Lake 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 visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The fracture and separation of the front left pontoon attach point due to corrosion. The inability of the area to be inspected was a factor in the accident.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 17, 1999 · about 11:09 pm local time
- Place
- Clear Lake, California · Clear Lake
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna TU 206G · all TU 206Gs on the register
- Registration
- N206RR · registry record · serial 20606874
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, during a water landing with the float equipped airplane, the touchdown was smooth. Shortly after water contact, the airplane suddenly veered to the left and overturned. The winds were light and variable and there were no white caps. An inspection of the airplane revealed a fracture and separation of the spreader bar at the front left pontoon attach point. The fracture was corroded. This area could only be observed because the pontoon was split open, and a mechanic could not inspect this area unless the floats were removed. A visual inspection had been completed on the floats by a mechanic the day before, and there were no mechanical problems with the airplane.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,223 hours in all; 207 in this make and model; 42 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 1,997 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 940 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 11, 1999; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SQL San Carlos CA at 10:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:51 pm from UKI, 25 miles away
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.