Cessna U206 accident near Willow, Alaska, September 9, 2018
On September 9, 2018 at about 7:53 am local time, a 1965 Cessna U206, registered N8070Z, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern crosswind) near Willow, Alaska (Willow airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot receiving instruction's failure to maintain control during a night landing pattern crosswind turn due to spatial disorientation and the flight instructor's inadequate supervision and delayed remedial action, which resulted in impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 9, 2018 · about 7:53 am local time
- Place
- Willow, Alaska · Willow · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna U206 A, built 1965 · all U206s on the register
- Registration
- N8070Z · registry record · serial U206-0470
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A flight instructor and a private pilot receiving instruction departed on a night training flight. The pilot had recently obtained her private pilot certificate without night training time under a regulatory exception for Alaska pilots. The accident flight was her first night flight. After performing one night landing and takeoff at the accident airport, the pilot receiving instruction performed a right turn to the crosswind leg at pattern altitude. The instructor, who was in the right seat, then exclaimed "what is up with your attitude?" The instructor took control of the airplane after he realized that the airplane was descending and the pilot receiving instruction was disoriented; however, the airplane impacted terrain shortly after. Both pilots stated that it was a dark, moonless night with no visible horizon in the vicinity of the remote airport. The pilot receiving instruction reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane.
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 visual reference during approach (VFR pattern crosswind) defining event
- Loss of control in flight during approach (VFR pattern crosswind)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during approach (VFR pattern crosswind)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Perception/orientation/illusion › Spatial disorientation › Student/instructed pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other person › Instructor/check pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Dark › Decision related to condition
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 83.3 hours in all; 2.7 in this make and model; 71.5 in the last 90 days; 39.2 in the last 30 days; 51.7 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 9, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- 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: 3,500 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 300 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 2,800 as pilot in command; 2,400 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 3, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,466 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 22, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Teledyne Continental Motors IO-520-F (piston); 665 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: UUO Willow AK
- Destination: UUO Willow AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 4,400 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 070° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 5:56 am from PAUO, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on December 5, 2019. 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 - Pilot (Spaulding) | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Conversation - Pilot (Spaulding) | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - CFI (Cabaud) | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Record of Conversation - CFI (Cabaud) | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Photographs | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N8070Z 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.