Cessna 206 accident near Fairbanks, Alaska, June 8, 2024
On June 8, 2024 at about 9:45 pm local time, a 1976 Cessna 206, registered N8795Q, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Fairbanks, Alaska (Blair Lake airport). It was a business flight 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 failure to maintain directional control during takeoff in gusting wind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 8, 2024 · about 9:45 pm local time · cases in 2024
- Place
- Fairbanks, Alaska · Blair Lake · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 206, built 1976 · all 206s on the register
- Registration
- N8795Q · registry record · serial U20603547
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot departed with a quartering headwind which ranged from calm to gusting. Shortly after rotation the pilot reported encountering a gust of wind that pushed the airplane to the left. The pilot attempted to correct with opposite aileron and rudder; however, the airplane impacted the trees along the left side of the runway which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane 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
- Collision during takeoff/land during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Contributed to outcome
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,150 hours in all; 685 in this make and model; 325 in the last 90 days; 115 in the last 30 days; 5,045 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 29, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Operator: Wright Air Service Inc
The flight
- Departed from: 2AK1 Fairbanks AK at 9:35 pm
- Destination: PAFA Fairbanks AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 31, 1,500 ft by 300 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 19 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.85 inHg
- Observation at 1:55 pm from EIL, 21 miles away
Weather report (METAR): PAEI 082155Z AUTO 12019G25KT 10SM CLR 26/M01 A2985 RMK AO2 PK WND 12026/21 SLP111 T02621008 $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Accident Airplane Right Side View
Photograph 2 – View of damage to left wing
Photograph 3 – View of damage to left wingThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on March 28, 2025. 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 | Photos | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N8795Q on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Cessna 206 Stationair 213 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,682 aircraft on the register
- Blair Lake Airport · nearest airport
- Fairbanks International · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Alaska 5,932 since 1982 · 825 in the last ten years
- Alaska 9,142 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ANC24LA046.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.