Cessna U206 Safety Record

the pilot's improper planning/decision, which resulted in his failure to maintain sufficient altitude or clearance from mountainous terrain. Factors relating to the accident were: the excessive gross weight of the airplane, the high density altitude, and the high (mountainous) terrain.

The pilot's improper evaluation of the weather conditions which led the pilot to maneuver within the confines of the lake to avoid surrounding terrain and a subsequent inadvertent stall. Factors were the terrain-induced turbulence and gusts.

The pilot-in-command's flight into known adverse weather and the subsequent overload and separation of the right wing-strut fuselage-to-strut attach point. Factors contributing were clouds and obscuration.

The pilot's improper decision to continue the flight rather than making an immediate water landing due to the low altitude of the airplane and obstructions ahead, which led to his intentional maneuver to avoid the obstructions and subsequent inadvertent stall and loss of control. Contributing to the accident were: an inadequate 100-hour inspection of the airplane by company maintenance personnel for failure to fix a damaged ignition lead and a partially separated keel on one of the floats, the pilot's inadequate preflight of the airplane for his failure to pump a float to remove water, and the pilot's intentional operation of the airplane with an excessive magneto drop.

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S INTENTIONAL FLIGHT INTO AN AREA OF LOW CEILINGS, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AN ALTITUDE SUFFICIENT FOR TERRAIN CLEARANCE. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S OVERCONFIDENCE, THE LOW CEILING AND THE DARK NIGHT CONDITION.

IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, RESULTING IN FUEL STARVATION DUE TO IMPROPER POSITIONING OF THE FUEL SELECTOR. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: AN UNDETERMINED ELECTRICAL FAILURE, AND LOSS OF FUEL QUANTITY INDICATION.

IMPROPER MAINTENANCE OF THE FUEL SYSTEM BY THE PILOT/MECHANIC RESULTING IN AN ENGINE FAILURE ON TAKEOFF OVER TERRAIN UNSUITABLE FOR A FORCED LANDING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISION TO TURN BACK TO THE RUNWAY, AND SUBSEQUENT INADVERTENT STALL.

POOR JUDGEMENT OF THE PILOT, DUE TO IMPAIRMENT FROM CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED, WHILE MANEUVERING DURING AN ABORTED LANDING (GO-AROUND). FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE OPEN CARGO DOOR, DISABLED FLAPS, AND THE PILOT'S DISTRACTION (DIVERTED ATTENTION).

INADEQUATE REMEDIAL ACTION BY THE PILOT AFTER EXHAUSTING ALL THE FUEL FROM A SELECTED FUEL TANK. FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACCIDENT ARE THE PILOTS INADEQUATE TRANSITION AND UPGRADE TRAINING AND A LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE.

IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, AND HIS FAILURE TO COMPENSATE FOR WIND CONDITIONS. THE UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS AND ROUGH WATER WERE RELATED FACTORS.

CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT BY THE PILOT INTO AN AREA OF MARGINAL VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE OVER MOUNTAINOUS/HILLY TERRAIN. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DARK NIGHT, HIGH TERRAIN, LOW CLOUDS/CEILING, RAIN, AND TREES.

IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, HIS VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC), AND HIS LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL DUE TO SPATIAL DISORIENTATION. FACTORS RELATED THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, HIGH TERRAIN, THE PILOT'S OVER CONFIDENCE IN HIS PERSONAL ABILITY, AND HIS LACK OF INSTRUMENT EXPERIENCE.

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FLARE DURING THE WATER LANDING. THE PILOT'S LACK OF RECENT EXPERIENCE IN SEAPLANE OPERATIONS AND THE LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT.

PILOT'S DECISION TO CONTINUE FLIGHT IN FORECAST MARGINAL VFR CONDITIONS IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO OBTAIN AN AVIATION WEATHER BRIEFING AND HIS LACK OF RECURRENT TRAINING.