In this study, an experiment with large-scale model was performed according to raising the embankment in order to investigate the behavior of failure for embankment and spillway transitional zone due to overtopping. The pore water pressure, earth pressure, settlement and failure pattern by a rapid drawdown and overtopping were compared and analyzed. The pore water pressure and earth pressure at spillway transitional zone by overtopping increased a rapidly with the expansion of seepage erosion, but the crest showed a smally change due to effect of the inclined core type. And it is considered an useful data that can accurately estimate the possibility of failure of the reservoirs. A settlement at overtopping decreased a rapidly due to failure of crest. The relative settlement difference due to change of the water level at the upstream and downstream slope cause increase largely crack of crest. The behavior of failure by overtopping was gradually enlarged towards reservoirs crest from the bottom of the spillway transition zone, the inclined core after the raising the embankment was influenced significantly to prevent the seepage erosion.