This July 2007 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
Aircraft: Cessna 206.
Location: Gunnison, Colo.
Injuries: 1 Serious.
Aircraft damage: Substantial.
What reportedly happened: The pilot said he rotated between 65 and 70 knots, flew in ground effect, and then climbed to about 50 to 75 feet. Suddenly the engine lost power and, according to the pilot, the airplane “started gyrating wildly.” It stalled and the right wing hit the runway. The plane bounced and the nosewheel collapsed. The Cessna skidded to a stop on the side of the runway.
The post-accident investigation included examination of the engine. No anomalies were noted.
One witness stated that full power was developed as the airplane accelerated down the runway. At the 1,000-foot marker, the airplane lifted off and assumed a very steep climb. When the airplane was about 25 feet above the runway the engine began to surge. The pilot leveled off and began a stabilized descent, as if he were making a forced landing, and then leveled off again. The airplane suddenly dipped to one side, then pulled up to a nose high attitude, stalled, and nosed into the ground.
Probable cause: An inadvertent stall during takeoff/initial climb. Contributing factors in this accident were a partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
