No fatalities

17 Aug 2016: CESSNA U206 A — Sleetmute, AK

Sleetmute, AK, United States

On 17 Aug 2016, a CESSNA U206 A was involved in an aviation accident near Sleetmute, AK. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's exceedance of the critical angle of attack during the landing flare, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and a hard landing. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

During landing flare at an unpublished dirt airstrip, the pilot entered a low-level aerodynamic stall. A hard touchdown due to the stall and a small rise caused the belly fuel tank to separate; the fuselage sustained substantial damage.

Incident Overview

A pilot reported that during the landing flare at an unpublished dirt airstrip, he entered a low-level aerodynamic stall. The stall, combined with a small rise on the runway, resulted in a hard touchdown. During the landing roll, the fuel belly tank installed under the fuselage separated from the airplane, and the fuselage sustained substantial damage.

Pilot's Account

The pilot stated that the aerodynamic stall occurred during the flare maneuver. He further reported that the hard touchdown was caused by both the stall and the presence of a small rise on the airstrip surface. The belly tank, which was mounted under the fuselage, detached during the landing roll.

Aircraft Damage

Substantial damage was noted to the fuselage. The belly fuel tank separated from the airplane and was no longer attached.

Mechanical Status

The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation prior to the event.

Contributing factors

Causes

PilotCapability exceeded

Other contributing factors

Contributed to outcome