Cessna C-206 accident near Anchorage, Alaska, August 15, 1983
On August 15, 1983 at about 3:56 am local time, a Cessna C-206, registered N70531, was destroyed in an accident near Anchorage, Alaska (Lake Hood Sea Plane airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. 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
- August 15, 1983 · about 3:56 am local time
- Place
- Anchorage, Alaska · Lake Hood Sea Plane · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna C-206
- Registration
- N70531 · no longer on the register · serial U20602077
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PRIOR TO THE FLIGHT N70531 WAS NOTED TO HAVE THE ENTIRE CABIN AREA FULL OF CARDBOARD FISH PACKING BOXES AND EMPTY 5 GAL BUCKETS STUFFED ONE INSIDE THE OTHER. THE ACFT WAS NOTED TO BE HEAVIER THAN NORMAL DURING REPOSITIONING OPERATIONS. THE PLT STATED DURING A FLT WITH ANOTHER PLT THAT HE DID NOT HAVE A LICENSE AND HE DID NOT NEED ONE. WITNESSES OBSVD N70531 MAKE 3 TKOF ATMPTS FM THE LAKE HOOD SEAPLANE BASE AND NEVER GET UP ON 'STEP'. ON THE THIRD ATMPT AFT PORPOISING AND USING A CONSIDERABLE DISTANCE FOR TKOF RUN THE ACFT LIFTED OFF THE WATER JUST CLEARING A BLDG AT THE END OF THE LAKE. WITNESSES ALSO STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT SEE THROUGH THE WINDOWS OF THE ACFT DUE TO CARGO. THE ACFT WAS NOTED TO CLIMB TO ABOUT 200 FEET, LEVEL OFF, THEN DESCEND INTO UTILITY PWR LINES AND A BUILDING IN A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE. REMOVAL OF THE FUEL CONTROL FILTER REVEALED DIRT AND DEBRIS WHICH ALMOST COMPLETELY OBSTRUCTED THE FILTER. THE TOX RPT INDICATED COCAINE IN BOTH THE PLT'S AND THE PAX'S BLOOD.
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
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,660 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 25, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-F (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: LHD Anchorage AK at 10:55 pm
- Destination: 5NN Nondalton AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.