VFR into IMC · NTSB CEN19FA271
Cessna U206 — Hopedale, LA
| Date | August 18, 2019 |
| Location | Hopedale, LA |
| Aircraft | Cessna U206 |
| Purpose of flight | Personal |
| Conditions | Day · Instrument Meteorological Cond |
| Phase / occurrence | Enroute Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT) |
| Pilot age | 55 |
| Pilot total time | 950 hrs · Building experience |
| Time in type | 450 hrs |
| Fatalities | 1, 2 serious |
Probable cause
The controlled flight into terrain (CFIT), resulting from the pilot’s failure to maintain proper altitude and continued flight into instrument meteorological conditions.
NTSB findings
- Personnel issues-Task performance-(general)-(general)-Pilot
- Personnel issues-Action/decision-Info processing/decision-Decision making/judgment-Pilot
- Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Ceiling/visibility/precip-Low ceiling-Contributed to outcome
What happened
The pilot and 2 passengers were returning from a fishing trip in the float equipped airplane. The flight path was over water. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed along the flight path and accident area. Both passengers reported that the airplane was flying low over the water beneath the clouds when it impacted the water. Only portions of the airplane wreckage were recovered, and the engine was not found. The available wreckage was examined, and no anomalies were found other than severe water impact damage. It is likely that the non-instrument rated pilot did not have a visible horizon, lost track of his altitude and descended below the clouds when the airplane impacted the water.