Cessna U206F accident near Kodiak, Alaska, June 8, 2022
On June 8, 2022 at about 7:34 pm local time, a 1972 Cessna U206F, registered N592KB, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Kodiak, Alaska. It was an aerial observation flight under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the right main landing gear leg due to fatigue cracks that initiated from corrosion pitting.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 8, 2022 · about 7:34 pm local time
- Place
- Kodiak, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna U206F, built 1972 · all U206Fs on the register
- Registration
- N592KB · registry record · serial U20601770
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was the fourth air tour company airplane to land at a remote beach site as part of a bear viewing flight. The pilot set up for a landing on the same tracks as the three previous company airplanes. During the landing, the left main landing gear wheel touched down first, followed by the right main landing gear wheel. When the right wheel touched down, the pilot heard a “pop” sound and the airplane veered to the right. The airplane slowly came to rest upright and sustained substantial damage to the left wing and right horizontal stabilizer. Postaccident examination revealed that the right main landing gear leg was fractured near the wheel attachment fitting. Materials laboratory examination of the right main landing gear leg revealed that the gear leg fractured during landing due to fatigue cracks that initiated from localized corrosion pitting. The area of the fatigue cracks which was absent paint and primer, contained many elements typical of salt corrosion in a marine environment. Repeated abrasive wear from landings on rough terrain or runway asphalt had likely removed the protective coatings in the area of the fatigue cracks.
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
- Aircraft structural failure during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Main landing gear › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,500 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model; 56 in the last 90 days; 56 in the last 30 days; 6,410 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 12, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,034.3 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 12, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor IO-520-F (piston); 6,476 hours total
- Operator: K Bay Air LLC
The flight
- Departed from: PAHO Homer AK at 10:25 am
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.79 inHg
- Observation at 11:05 am from PADQ, 66 miles away
Weather report (METAR): PADQ 081905Z 30008KT 10SM SCT026 15/06 A2979 RMK AO2 T01500061
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
7 documents, released by the NTSB on August 23, 2023. 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 | Materials Laboratory Factual Report | PDF, 16 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Pilot Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Director of Maintenance Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Excerpt of Maintenance Records | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Excerpt of Gear Leg Form 337 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Accident Photographs | 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.