Cessna U206B accident near Skwentna, Alaska, October 4, 2024
On October 4, 2024 at about 8:05 pm local time, a 1967 Cessna U206B, registered N3495L, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Skwentna, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s delayed go-around decision, which resulted in inadvertent contact with the landing surface, loss of directional control, and a nose over in gusting wind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 4, 2024 · about 8:05 pm local time
- Place
- Skwentna, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna U206B, built 1967 · all U206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N3495L · registry record · serial U206-0795
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, just prior to touchdown while landing on a lake in gusting wind conditions, he attempted to execute a go-around. The float-equipped airplane inadvertently contacted the water and bounced twice on the surface. The pilot lost directional control and nosed over which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing and vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions 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
- Nose over/nose down during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 884 hours in all; 630 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 832 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 1, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (waiver time limited special)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,937 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 21, 2022; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,661 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental I0520F9 (piston); 861 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AUO Willow AK at 7:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.17 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 am from PATK, 38 miles away
Weather report (METAR): PATK 041953Z 02012KT 10SM OVC090 09/M02 A2917 RMK AO2 SLP882 T00941022
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Image of submerged airplane before recovery
Photograph 2 – Image of right wing, fuselage, empennage, and floats
Photograph 3 – Image of right 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 May 12, 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, 10 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.
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.