Cessna TU206 accident near Bethel, Alaska, May 6, 2009
On May 6, 2009 at about 5:03 pm local time, a Cessna TU206, registered N629SP, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Bethel, Alaska (Bethel Airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to remove visible frost from the wings during the preflight inspection, and his failure to maintain adequate airspeed to avoid a stall. Contributing to the accident were conditions conducive to structural icing/frost.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 6, 2009 · about 5:03 pm local time
- Place
- Bethel, Alaska · Bethel Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna TU206 F · all TU206s on the register
- Registration
- N629SP · no longer on the register · serial U20602070
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was taking off on the first flight of the day and had accelerated normally during the short field takeoff roll. During entry into the initial climb, the airplane suddenly rolled into an uncommanded left bank and entered an uncontrolled descent. The left wingtip struck terrain to the left of the runway approximately 1,000 feet from the beginning of the takeoff roll. The airplane came to rest upright approximately 200 feet from the initial impact point. During the impact sequence the unsecured cargo shifted forward and struck the back of the pilot’s seat and the right side of the instrument panel. The pilot exited the airplane unassisted. Photos taken 5 minutes after the accident show the leading edges and tops of the wings, and horizontal tail surfaces were covered in rough frost. The photos also show the frost appears to have been scraped off of most of the windshield. There was substantial damage to the left wing, nose gear, firewall, forward empennage, and both wingtips.
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
- Structural icing during prior to flight
- Aircraft loading event during prior to flight
- Aircraft inspection event during prior to flight
- Loss of control in flight during initial climb defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
- Cabin safety event during post (impact)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Inspection › Preflight inspection › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › Conducive to structural icing › Effect on operation
- Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service › Loading › (general) › Incorrect use/operation
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Personality/attitude › Complacency › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,089 hours in all; 438 in this make and model; 52 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 8,089 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 8, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,092 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 3, 2009; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO520 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Alaska Scenic Air LLC
The flight
- Departed from: PABE Bethel AK at 12:03 pm
- Destination: PFKA Kasigluk AK
- Runway 29, 1,860 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 700 ft
- Temperature: 27°F (-3°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 am from PABE, 1 miles away
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.