Cessna 206 accident near English Bay, Alaska, July 11, 2003
On July 11, 2003 at about 7:05 pm local time, a Cessna 206, registered N505SD, was substantially damaged in an accident near English Bay, Alaska (English Bay airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during an aborted landing, resulting in an inadvertent stall and subsequent collision with water. Factors were the high velocity crosswind conditions, the pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions, and his delay in aborting the landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 11, 2003 · about 7:05 pm local time
- Place
- English Bay, Alaska · English Bay · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 206 · all 206s on the register
- Registration
- N505SD · no longer on the register · serial 2060947
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The solo certificated commercial pilot of the Title 14, CFR 135, cargo flight was attempting to land the airplane on a 1,850 foot long by 50 foot wide gravel-covered airstrip. Several witnesses reported gusty east-southeast winds, ranging between 25 and 40 knots, blowing directly across the runway. They reported that as the airplane proceeded on its final approach to runway 19, which required a correction for a left crosswind, the airplane "floated down the runway" after passing over the runway threshold, and eventually touched down about mid-field. As it touched down, the airplane bounced twice, which was immediately followed by the sound of full engine power. As it began to climb, the airplane made a sharp right turn to the west, to avoid terrain at the end of the runway. As the westerly turn continued, the airplane climbed to about 150 feet, over the ocean waters to the south of the airport. The witnesses said that the nose of the airplane then pitched up, and the left wing suddenly dropped. The airplane subsequently descended, struck the surface of the ocean, and sank in 30 feet of water about 200 yards from shore. Examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical anomalies. Pilots who regularly use the accident airport stated that they routinely encounter substantial downdrafts on final approach to runway 19 when the prevailing strong east-southeast winds are present. The pilots added that when the east-southeasterly winds are blowing, the approach requires a significant correction for a left crosswind. A pilot who had recently departed from the accident airport, talked with the accident pilot via radio about 45 minutes before the accident. The pilot told the accident pilot, in part: "Be careful. You've got the typical strong southeast winds blowing right across the runway."
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,203 hours in all; 1,185 in this make and model; 146 in the last 90 days; 46 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: July 10, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11,628 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 17, 2003; 80 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: HOM Homer AK at 1:30 pm
- Destination: KEB English Bay AK
- Runway 19, 1,850 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 20 knots, gusting 40
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
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.