Cessna U206 accident near Pedro Bay, Alaska, August 18, 2018
On August 18, 2018 at about 6:00 pm local time, a 1972 Cessna U206, registered N441GR, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Pedro Bay, Alaska. It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The fatigue fracture of both main landing gear legs during the landing roll, which resulted in the collapse and separation of both main landing gear legs.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 18, 2018 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Pedro Bay, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna U206 F, built 1972 · all U206s on the register
- Registration
- N441GR · no longer on the register · serial U20601801
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, before landing on the tidal beach, he conducted two passes over the landing area to check for debris and determine wind direction. He stated that, after touchdown on the beach, the airplane felt like it had a flat tire and subsequently veered to the right. The airplane came to rest in a left-wing-low attitude on a tidal mudflat and sustained substantial damage to the left wing, left horizontal stabilizer, and left elevator. The pilot examined the airplane and noted that both main landing gear legs had separated just above the main axle attach point. A laboratory examination revealed that both main landing gear legs failed due to fatigue cracking.
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
- Part(s) separation from AC during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Main landing gear › Failure
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Main landing gear › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,400 hours in all; 1,660 in this make and model; 204 in the last 90 days; 60 in the last 30 days; 4,300 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 29, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,480 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 10, 2018
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-F (piston); 2,945 hours total
- Operator: K Bay Air LLC
The flight
- Departed from: PAHO Homer AK
- Destination: Pedro Bay AK
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 6,500 ft; clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.29 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from PAHO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 5 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on April 24, 2020. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Materials Laboratory Factual Report | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Photos | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.