Cessna U206G accident near Mcgrath, Alaska, March 1, 2021
On March 1, 2021, a 1980 Cessna U206G, registered N1748R, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Mcgrath, Alaska (Tatitna airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s selection of an unsuitable landing surface.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 1, 2021
- Place
- Mcgrath, Alaska · Tatitna · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna U206G, built 1980 · all U206Gs on the register
- Registration
- N1748R · registry record · serial U20605438
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the wheel-equipped tricycle gear airplane reported that, he was landing on a hard packed snow-covered airstrip. After touchdown and during the landing rollout the right main tire and nose wheel broke through the hard crusted snow. The nose gear assembly collapsed, and the right wing struck the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operations. In the recommendation section of the NTSB Accident/Incident Reporting Form 6120.1, the operator stated that the accident may have been prevented if the mission parameters had been clearly stated to the pilot, and that hard packed snow will no longer be considered a suitable landing area for wheel-equipped airplanes.
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
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,068 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model; 47 in the last 90 days; 33 in the last 30 days; 9,529 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 4, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,498.8 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 27, 2020
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor IO-520-D (piston); 9,826 hours total
- Operator: Alaska Skyways Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: PAWS Wasilla AK at 11:40 pm
- Runway 06/2, 1,200 ft by 12 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,400 ft
- Temperature: -4°F (-20°C), dew point -8°F (-22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.81 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 am from PAMC, 74 miles away
Weather report (METAR): PAMC 281253Z AUTO 31009KT 3SM -SN BR OVC024 M20/M22 A2981 RMK AO2 SLP105 P0000 T12001217 TSNO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check 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.