Cessna U206G accident near Iliamna, Alaska, August 18, 2007
On August 18, 2007 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Cessna U206G, registered N4773U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Iliamna, Alaska. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate compensation for gusty wind conditions, which resulted in the float-equipped airplane's right wing striking the bottom of the shallow lake, while taxiing for takeoff. A factor contributing to the accident was the gusty wind condition.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 18, 2007 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Iliamna, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna U206G · all U206Gs on the register
- Registration
- N4773U · registry record · serial U20605094
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The solo commercial certificated pilot was water-taxiing the float-equipped airplane for takeoff to conduct a positioning flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The pilot reported that the winds were 30 knots, gusting to 40 knots, and that the wind picked up the left wing, forcing the right wing into the shallow water where it struck the bottom of the lake. He said the airplane righted itself, and he was able to taxi to the shore. In a written statement, the pilot reported that the damage to the airplane sustained during the accident was to the right wingtip, and one-fifth of the right wing.
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; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,029 hours in all; 1,549 in this make and model; 317 in the last 90 days; 135 in the last 30 days; 2,938 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,913 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-F (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Branch River Air
The flight
- Departed from: Iliamna AK
- Destination: PAKN King Salmon AK
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 30 knots, gusting 40
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 800 ft; ovct at 800 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
Other NTSB records under N4773U 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.