Cessna U206 accident near Paxson, Alaska, September 22, 2001
On September 22, 2001 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Cessna U206, registered N3831G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Paxson, Alaska (Mclaren River Lodge airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a sign while taxiing after landing in mixed rain and snow. Factors associated with the accident are reduced visibility conditions due to the snow and rain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 22, 2001 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Paxson, Alaska · Mclaren River Lodge · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna U206 · all U206s on the register
- Registration
- N3831G · registry record · serial U206-0831
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported he made an unplanned, precautionary landing during a cross country flight due to deteriorating weather conditions. After landing at a remote lodge airstrip, he had difficulty seeing a sign, and just before striking the sign, he applied the brakes and attempted to turn away from it. The left wing struck the sign, and the nose gear collapsed. The pilot said he had difficulty seeing the sign due to the reduced visibility in rain and snow.
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: 15,000 hours in all; 7,000 in this make and model; 250 in the last 90 days; 80 in the last 30 days; 15,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 6, 2001
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,681 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 25, 2001; 91 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO520F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3AK3 Talkeetna AK at 5:00 pm
- Destination: Paxson AK
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N3831G the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.