Cessna U206B accident near Gilbertsville, Kentucky, September 6, 1997
On September 6, 1997 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Cessna U206B, registered N206KY, was destroyed in an accident near Gilbertsville, Kentucky. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed and 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The improper repair of a float by maintenance personnel which resulted in the total failure of the float.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 6, 1997 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Gilbertsville, Kentucky · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna U206B · all U206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N206KY · registry record · serial U206-0676
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During a touch and go water landing the float plane nosed over. Examination revealed that the outboard bottom section of the right float was compressed upward and aft. Maintenance records revealed that the outboard bottom section of the right float was repaired approximate 48 flight hours prior to the accident. The mechanic reported that the repair was accomplished according to the float manufacturer's repair manual. The float manufacturer's repair manual indicated that when replacing outboard bottom skin, the skin should be reattached through riveting the new skin to the keel, or to preexisting skin in the keel. Examination of the damaged float revealed that the right outboard bottom skin of the right float had separated from the keel. There was no evidence of preexisting skin in the keel or riveting of the new skin to the keel. There was no evidence of scratches or dents on the separated skin, and a witness reported that there were no obstructions in the water, and that the winds were calm.
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: airline transport pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 23,400 hours in all; 62 in this make and model; 62 in the last 90 days; 62 in the last 30 days; 12,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 6, 1996; 48 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,500 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: K45 Kuttawa KY at 5:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,200 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:56 pm from PAH, 26 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number NYC97FA178.