Beech G18S accident near Yakutat, Alaska, July 13, 2009
On July 13, 2009 at about 10:52 pm local time, a Beech G18S, registered N93CA, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Yakutat, Alaska (Yakutat airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 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 failure to maintain directional control during landing, which resulted in a runway excursion, and main landing gear collapse.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 13, 2009 · about 10:52 pm local time
- Place
- Yakutat, Alaska · Yakutat · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech G18S · all G18Ss on the register
- Registration
- N93CA · no longer on the register · serial BA-604
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airline transport pilot was on a Title 14, CFR Part 135, cargo flight when the accident occurred. The pilot reported that during landing, the main wheels were on the ground, and as he lowered the tail, a direct crosswind gust that he estimated to be about 15 knots struck the airplane. He said he attempted to counter the gust with power to the upwind engine, but was unable to counter the effect of the gust, and pulled power from both engines, and applied the brakes. He reported that the airplane went off the runway, and made a 180 degree left turn. During the excursion he said the right main landing gear collapsed. In a written statement the pilot said he should have flown over the field and checked the windsock rather than make a straight-in landing. He said there were no known mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident. The right wing of the airplane received substantial damage when the right main landing gear collapsed.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing
- Runway excursion during landing defining event
- Landing gear collapse during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Main landing gear › Failure
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Main landing gear › Capability exceeded
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Response/compensation
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 13,300 hours in all; 955 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 85 in the last 30 days; 13,250 as pilot in command; 350 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 16,350 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 2, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 10,100 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: P&W R-985 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: P&W R-985 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Dry Bay AK at 5:30 pm
- Destination: PAYA Yakutat AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 29, 7,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.