Cessna U206B accident near Gustavus, Alaska, September 6, 2014
On September 6, 2014 at about 11:30 pm local time, a 1967 Cessna U206B, registered N3862G, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Gustavus, Alaska (Excursion Inlet airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The motor vehicles operators' lack of attention, and improper decision to cross the runway with the runway alert system active, resulting in a collision with the airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 6, 2014 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Gustavus, Alaska · Excursion Inlet · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna U206B, built 1967 · all U206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N3862G · registry record · serial U206-0862
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was landing at a private airport that is used to support fish cannery operations. A road runs parallel to the runway with multiple intersections where motor vehicles cross the runway. The airport is equipped with a pre-landing alert system to warn ground personnel that an aircraft is approaching. The pilot keys the aircraft radios push to talk switch multiple times, which activates a series of flashing lights and horns. The pilot reported that before landing he activated the pre-landing alert system, and proceeded to land to the North. After touchdown, but during the landing rollout, at approximately 30 miles per hour, a truck entered the runway and struck the left side of the airplane. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left horizontal stabilizer and elevator. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. In the recommendation section of the NTSB Accident/Incident Reporting Form 6120.1, the pilot stated that the accident may have been avoided if the cannery provided initial and recurrent training for all employees on runway safety and aircraft operations. In addition, the pilot recommended better signage be incorporated at all runway intersection crossings, and brush and trees be cleared from the vicinity of the runway thereby increasing visibility.
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
- Miscellaneous/other during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Other/unknown
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Other/unknown
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Identification/recognition › Other/unknown
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,077 hours in all; 256 in this make and model; 256 in the last 90 days; 107 in the last 30 days; 2,051 as pilot in command; 726 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 10, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,138 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 3, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520F (piston); 8,828 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PAGS Gustavus AK
- Destination: EXI Gustavus AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway SE, 3,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,000 ft; a few clouds at 500 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.