Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

July 28, 2006 · Cessna TU206G · N5421X

Lowman, ID

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 28, 2006
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Lowman, ID
Aircraft
Cessna TU206G
Tail Number
N5421X
Operator
Usda Forest Service
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
SEA06TA152

The pilot was landing on a mountain dirt airstrip which did not have a wind sock on the approach end of the runway. The approach end of the runway terminated in a lake, and the runway proceeded uphill with a 6 percent grade. The pilot said that there was always a "sinker" where the runway meets the water. As the airplane went from over water to over the end of the runway, the pilot said the airplane was "really slammed down", and even with full takeoff power the airplane hit the ground hard. He said the airplane bounced about 20 yards to the right where the right wheel went into a ditch about 2 feet deep. He applied full left aileron, full left rudder, and full left brake. The wheel came out of the ditch, but the empennage "whacked" the ditch berm fairly hard. A Form 337 (major repair) was issued and the following parts were replaced: two skin pieces; two stringers; two frame bulkheads; one access door; and one tailcone assembly doubler.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's loss of aircraft control due to a downdraft on short final followed by an uncontrolled descent to a hard landing.

Full Narrative

On July 28, 2006, at approximately 1230 mountain daylight time, a Cessna TU206G, was substantially damaged during a hard landing at Deadwood Reservoir Airstrip (ID86), near Lowman, Idaho. The commercial pilot and his passenger were not injured. The airplane was being operated under contract to the USDA Forest Service by Pioneer Aviation, Inc., Boise, Idaho, as a public use flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross-country flight that had originated from Boise, Idaho, at approximately 0900. U.S. Forest Service personnel stated that the purpose of the flight was for an aerial survey for forest pest detection. The pilot said that the wind sock at the top of the hill, at the east end of the runway, was not moving, and there was no wind sock at the approach end of the runway. He said the approach was made over the lake and "there is always a sinker" where the runway meets the water. This approach is to runway 06, which has an uphill 6 percent grade. As the airplane went from over water to over the end of the runway, the pilot said the airplane was "really slammed down," and even with full takeoff power the airplane hit the ground hard. The pilot said the airplane bounced about 20 yards to the right where the right wheel went into a ditch about 2 feet deep. He applied full left aileron, full left rudder, and full left brake. The wheel came out of the ditch, but the empennage "whacked" the ditch berm fairly hard. Postaccident examination of photographs and parts replacement list by a Federal Aviation Inspector resulted in a Form 337 (major repair) being requested for the required repair. This form documented the replacement of the following parts: two skin pieces; two stringers; two frame bulkheads; one access door; and one tailcone assembly doubler.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:30 MDT
Nearest AirportDeadwood Dam Airstrip (0nm)
Runway06
Runway Length1800 ft
Runway Width50 ft
Flight Plan FiledCvfr
Flight Plan ActivatedYes
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna TU206G
Tail NumberN5421X
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorUsda Forest Service
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · TSIO-520-M · Reciprocating · 310
Seats5

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 62 · Second Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind270° @ 7 kt, gusting 16 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point30 C
Altimeter30.13 inHg
Observation Time18:51
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data