Cessna U206 accident near Mccarthy, Alaska, July 31, 2001
On July 31, 2001, a Cessna U206, registered N29167, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mccarthy, Alaska (Horsfeld airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's decision to not abort the takeoff. Factors associated with the accident are a short and rising runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 31, 2001
- Place
- Mccarthy, Alaska · Horsfeld · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna U206 · all U206s on the register
- Registration
- N29167 · no longer on the register · serial U2061134
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated he was attempting to depart a rural airstrip approximately 1,100 feet in length. He said he elected to takeoff uphill, so he wouldn't have to fly into the sun. In his written report to the NTSB, the pilot indicated he should have aborted the takeoff earlier in the takeoff roll, but he elected to continue, and overran the end of the runway and collided with brush.
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 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 3,120 hours in all; 530 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 3,120 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 2, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,182 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 11, 2000; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MXY Mccarthy AK at 6:00 pm
- Destination: MRI Anchorage AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 03, 1,100 ft by 20 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.