Cessna U206F accident near Noatak, Alaska, May 23, 2017
On May 23, 2017 at about 2:23 am local time, a 1972 Cessna U206F, registered N9575G, was destroyed in an accident during taxi near Noatak, Alaska. It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A fire in the airplane's cabin, which initiated for reasons that could not be determined due to extensive thermal damage.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 23, 2017 · about 2:23 am local time
- Place
- Noatak, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna U206F, built 1972 · all U206Fs on the register
- Registration
- N9575G · registry record · serial U20601775
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The commercial pilot reported that, after landing at a remote, unimproved off-airport landing site, he taxied the airplane to the end of the strip, and he turned around while raising the flaps. Immediately thereafter, he felt heat on the left side of his face. Subsequently, he saw flames in the aft cabin near the right cargo door. Both the pilot and passenger immediately exited the airplane. The cockpit, baggage area, right wing, left wing fuel cell, fuselage section forward of the vertical stabilizer, and the contents of the airplane were mostly consumed by fire. Due to the extensive thermal damage, the source of the fire could not be determined.
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
- Fire/smoke (non-impact) during taxi defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,300 hours in all; 5,000 in this make and model; 259 in the last 90 days; 70 in the last 30 days; 9,300 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 27, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 14,189 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2017
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520 (piston); 472 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Kotzebue AK
- Destination: Noatak AK
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.70 inHg
- Observation at 1:58 am from PATZ, 38 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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 N9575G 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.