Cessna TU206G accident near Ballard, Washington, August 28, 2009
On August 28, 2009 at about 1:48 pm local time, a Cessna TU206G, registered N682RC, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Ballard, Washington. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's precautionary water landing with partially extended landing gear. Contributing to the accident was the unidentified anomaly with the airplane's electrical system, which rendered the gear position indicator system inoperative.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 28, 2009 · about 1:48 pm local time
- Place
- Ballard, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna TU206G · all TU206Gs on the register
- Registration
- N682RC · no longer on the register · serial U20605537
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that about 15 minutes after taking off from a runway in an amphibious airplane, all electrical power was lost. The pilot also observed that the fuel gauges indicated empty, and he became concerned about continuing his flight over populated areas. Therefore, he chose to make a precautionary water landing to a nearby marina to check his fuel state and investigate the electrical problem. Prior to landing, the pilot reported that he attempted to hand pump the landing gear up. He was able to visually confirm that both of the front gear were raised, however, due to the electrical failure, the gear position indicator was inoperative and he was unable to verify if the main gear were retracted. During the water landing, the left main aft gear was still extended and upon touchdown, the left pontoon lifted and the right wing tip impacted the water. The airplane pitched forward and nosed over. The reason for the electrical failure was not determined due to damage from the airplane's immersion in salt water.
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
- Electrical system malf/failure during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during enroute (cruise)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Gear position and warning › Inoperative
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Electrical power system › DC generation system › Inoperative
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,214 hours in all; 251 in this make and model; 36 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: June 12, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,802 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 10, 2009; 31 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor TSIO-520 SER (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PWT Bremerton WA at 1:30 pm
- Destination: PAE Everett WA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.