Dehavilland BEAVER U-6A accident near Kokhanok, Alaska, June 26, 2022
On June 26, 2022 at about 2:00 am local time, a 1954 Dehavilland BEAVER U-6A, registered N600NL, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Kokhanok, Alaska (Private airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 7 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during takeoff in gusting wind conditions which resulted in a loss of control and impact with the water.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 26, 2022 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Kokhanok, Alaska · Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 7 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Dehavilland BEAVER U-6A, built 1954 · all BEAVER U-6As on the register
- Registration
- N600NL · registry record · serial 857
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, as the float-equipped airplane accelerated on the water for takeoff, a gust of wind turned the airplane 90° to the left. The left float subsequently impacted a wave and the airplane rolled inverted. The airplane eventually sank and was not recovered. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
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 control in flight during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 19,150 hours in all; 10,000 in this make and model; 36 in the last 90 days; 36 in the last 30 days; 18,950 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 27, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 14,104.3 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 6, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 5,090 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985 SERIES (piston); 9,804 hours total
- Operator: Newhalen Lodge INC
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.27 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from PAIL, 19 miles away
Weather report (METAR): PAIL 260153Z 15006KT 10SM FU CLR 14/10 A3027 RMK AO2 SLP251 T01440100
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 6 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ANC22LA050.