Cessna U206F accident near Igiugig, Alaska, August 2, 2021
On August 2, 2021, a 1972 Cessna U206F, registered N9608G, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Igiugig, Alaska. It was an other work-use flight under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 3 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s improper decision to continue a takeoff attempt when it became evident that the airplane would not become airborne before reaching the departure end shoreline.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 2, 2021
- Place
- Igiugig, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna U206F NO SERIES, built 1972 · all U206Fs on the register
- Registration
- N9608G · registry record · serial U20601808
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was attempting a takeoff in a float-equipped airplane. He estimated the gross weight of the airplane to be about 300 lbs. under the maximum gross weight limitation. He stated that after seeing the shoreline get “uncomfortably closer,” he wondered why the airplane was not getting airborne. The airplane subsequently impacted the shore, nosed over, and came to rest inverted on the beach. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The FAA publication Seaplane, Skiplane, and Float/Ski Equipped Helicopter Operations Handbook (FAA-H-8083-23) states that for seaplanes, as weight increases, the floats sink deeper into the water, creating a significant amount of water drag force during initial acceleration that results in a longer takeoff run.
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
- Runway excursion during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,935 hours in all; 250 in this make and model; 249 in the last 90 days; 128 in the last 30 days; 1,839 as pilot in command; 674 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 5, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 13,668.2 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 17, 2021; 66.1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor IO 520 SERIES (piston); 146,003 hours total
- Operator: Branch River Air Service Inc
The flight
- Destination: PAKN King Salmon AK
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 11 knots
- Sky: a few clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Observation at 4:56 pm from PAIG, 20 miles away
Weather report (METAR): PAIG 020056Z AUTO 03011KT FEW050 SCT065 17/14 RMK AO2 SLPNO T01720139 PWINO $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on November 12, 2021. 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 | Record of Conversation_pic | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photos | PDF, 1 page | 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 N9608G 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.