Cessna 206 accident near Chalkyitsik, Alaska, September 11, 2003
On September 11, 2003 at about 2:00 am local time, a Cessna 206, registered N710MH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chalkyitsik, Alaska. It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions, and his failure to maintain adequate airspeed during takeoff, which resulted in an in-flight collision with brush, and subsequent stall of the airplane. Factors associated with the accident were a crosswind, high vegetation (brush), and an inadvertent stall.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 11, 2003 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Chalkyitsik, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 206 · all 206s on the register
- Registration
- N710MH · registry record · serial U20602383
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The commercial pilot was departing from a 1,500 foot-long gravel-covered site, which required a correction for a strong right crosswind. Just after takeoff, the airplane drifted to the left, and the main landing gear wheels struck a stand of brush. The airplane subsequently descended towards an area of rough and uneven terrain. As the pilot was attempting to gain altitude, the airplane stalled, and the nose wheel struck a large ditch at the departure end of the site. The airplane nosed over, and sustained structural damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. According to the company owner, there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the 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 factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,761 hours in all; 3,133 in this make and model; 95 in the last 90 days; 66 in the last 30 days; 7,761 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 24, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,692 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 12, 2003; 26 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Chalkyitsik AK at 9:00 pm
- Destination: CHP Circle Hot Spgs AK
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 182° at 10 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.