Cessna 207A accident near Dillingham, Alaska, July 6, 1983
On July 6, 1983 at about 8:33 pm local time, a Cessna 207A, registered N6271H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Dillingham, Alaska (None airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 1 person had minor injuries; 11 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 6, 1983 · about 8:33 pm local time
- Place
- Dillingham, Alaska · None · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 11 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 207A · all 207As on the register
- Registration
- N6271H · no longer on the register · serial 20700459
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A BEACHED UNOCCUPIED 18 FT SKIFF DURING A TAKEOFF ATTEMPT FROM A SOFT BEACH. THIS ACFT IS A 7 PLACE MODEL. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT THERE WERE 12 OCCUPANTS ON BOARD. THE ACFT WAS NOT OVERWEIGHT BECAUSE SEVERAL OCCUPANTS WERE CHILDREN BEING HELD BY ADULTS. THE ACFT WAS HOWEVER OUT OF C.G. IN ADDITION, THE SOFT SAND ON THE BEACH WAS CROSSED BY A NUMBER OF FISH NET LINES. ONE OF THE PASSENGERS SAID THE TAIL DRAGGED ON THE BEACH DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL. THE PILOT SAID HE HAD CUT THE POWER TO ABORT BECAUSE OF SLOW ACCELERATION WHEN HE HIT THE BOAT AND NOSED OVER. IT COULD NOT BE DETERMINED WHEN THE SKIFF WAS PLACED ON THE BEACH. NOT ALL OCCUPANTS WERE USING SAFETY BELTS.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,032 hours in all; 385 in this make and model; 250 in the last 90 days; 150 in the last 30 days; 1,780 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,020 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 30, 1983; 58 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: DLG Dillingham AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 10 |
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.
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.