Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin 54235
Tuesady, September 27, 2005 11:15 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The amphibian airplane contacted an unexpected wave and sank during the water landing. The pilot stated he flew over the intended landing area which he was very familiar with. He stated the water looked clear so he approached the channel on a downwind leg. He stated he turned base leg over the shoreline and turned onto final approach into the wind. He stated that when he entered the landing flare he looked out his side window to judge his height and he "saw a very large wave" that was in his path. He stated that there was no way to avoid the wave so he added power to try and "catch the top of the wave." However, the floats caught the wave and the airplane was "catapulted" forward into the water. The tip of the right float broke off and the airplane sank nose down in 10 to 12 foot deep water. The pilot reported there was approximately a 6-inch chop of the surface of the water at the time of the landing. He stated he was landing to the southwest and the winds were from the southwest at approximately 12 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The unexpected wave that the airplane encountered during the landing flare.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/27/2005
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1115
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Sturgeon Bay
Event State WISCONSIN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 54235
Event Date Year 2005
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 445037N
Event Location Longitude 0872517W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport --
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source --
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling --
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) --
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency --
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 18913
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Sep 27 2005 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jan 31 2006 7:35AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Milwaukee, WI FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N206WK
NTSB Number CHI05CA275
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion --
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model T206H
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number T20608318
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft --
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed --
ELT Activated --
ELT Aided Location of Event Site --
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Tundra Aviation, Inc.
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Green Bay
Aircraft Owner State WI
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 54301
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Brian F. Michaud
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Green Bay
Operator State WI
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board --
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code GRB
Departure City Green Bay
Departure State WI
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1100
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Landing - flare/touchdown
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 25 2005 4:23PM
User who most recently changed record SULP
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --