Cessna 206 and amateur-built DHC-2 accident near King Salmon, Alaska, June 22, 2000
On June 22, 2000 at about 11:50 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 206 (N495K) and amateur-built DHC-2 (N5221G), were involved in the same accident near King Salmon, Alaska. 2 people had minor injuries; 9 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The Cessna pilot's inadequate visual lookout, and both pilots' inadequate radio traffic advisories. A factor associated with the accident was sunglare on the water.
The inadequate visual lookout by the pilot of the other airplane, and the inadequate radio traffic advisories by the pilots of both airplanes.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 22, 2000 · about 11:50 pm local time
- Place
- King Salmon, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 9 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 206 · all 206s on the register
- Registration
- N495K · registry record · serial U20602730
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
- Aircraft 2
- Amateur-built DHC-2
- Registration
- N5221G · registry record · serial 667
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 206 final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to an FAA inspector who interviewed both pilots, they related the float equipped Cessna was taxiing away from the shore, into the sun, and the float equipped DeHavilland was taxiing toward the shore after landing. The DeHavilland pilot believed that the Cessna pilot saw his airplane. The Cessna turned toward the DeHavilland, began the takeoff water run, and collided before either pilot could make an effective evasive maneuver. The Cessna pilot said he never saw the DeHavilland in the sun glare. As the Cessna was about to come on the step, the right-front seat passenger warned the Cessna pilot about the DeHavilland. The Cessna pilot attempted to maneuver the Cessna to the left, but the Cessna's right wing struck the DeHavilland's windshield. The radios of both airplanes were tuned to the local common traffic advisory frequency. The pilot of the DeHavilland made a radio transmission just before he landed, and none others. The pilot of the Cessna said he did not put on his headset until about halfway through the taxi for takeoff. Neither pilot reported hearing any radio transmissions from the pilot of the opposing airplane.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The NTSB's narrative for the amateur-built DHC-2 final · quoted from the NTSB record
See narrative for ANC00LA074A.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record for the Cessna 206 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,800 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model; 155 in the last 90 days; 60 in the last 30 days; 6,700 as pilot in command; 1,000 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,707 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 26, 2000; 91 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520F (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Katmai Air, LLC.
The flight
- Destination: AKN King Salmon AK
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
The factual record for the amateur-built DHC-2 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine sea
- Flight time: 2,291 hours in all; 1,091 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 2,291 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,138 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 6, 2000; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,090 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Naknek Lake AK at 6:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 4 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.