Cessna T206H accident near Chickaloon, Alaska, September 2, 2003
On September 2, 2003 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Cessna T206H, registered N72598, was destroyed in an accident near Chickaloon, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's continued VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions, and subsequent collision with mountainous terrain while maneuvering. Factors contributing to the accident were weather conditions consisting of clouds/mist and low ceilings, and the pilot's failure to obtain in-flight weather advisories before entering mountainous terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 2, 2003 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Chickaloon, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T206H · all T206Hs on the register
- Registration
- N72598 · no longer on the register · serial T20608264
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
At 0645, the private certificated pilot obtained a weather briefing from an FAA automated flight service station and filed a VFR flight plan for a 4.5 hour flight over terrain that went from sea level to mountainous, with a transition eastbound through a mountain pass. The weather briefing included isolated areas of low visibility, and forecast the mountain pass as VFR in rain showers. The pass, elevation about 3,000 feet msl, is located about 10 miles northeast of the accident site, and about 7 miles north-northeast of the closest weather observation station. The briefing did not include weather observations from either side of the pass, nor any pilot reports for the area, because the first observations near the pass for the day had not been received by the FAA when the pilot concluded his briefing at 0655. The first weather observation near the pass was posted to the FAA by a weather observer at 0659. The observation included a visibility of 1/2 statute mile in mist, an indefinite ceiling with a vertical visibility of 300 feet, and contained a remarks section that estimated the pass was closed. The pilot departed on the flight at 0752. The pilot did not request any further weather information from the FAA during the flight. At 1005, near the time of the crash, the weather observation station reported the visibility as 1 statute mile, an indefinite ceiling with a vertical visibility of 300 feet, and estimated the pass was closed. The flight did not arrive at is destination and was reported overdue at 1522. A relative of the pilot located the burning wreckage about 2100 on the side of a mountain at an elevation of about 3,700 feet msl. The accident site was about 4 miles west of the weather observation station. The airplane was consumed by a postcrash fire. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that it collided upright with the terrain in about a 40 degree left bank. Examination of the wreckage did not disclose any preimpact mechanical malfunction.
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; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-AJ1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: PAHO Homer AK at 10:52 am
- Destination: CYXY Whitehorse
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 195° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: vv at 300 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.53 inHg
- Observation at 1:05 pm from PASP, 4 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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 N72598 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.