Douglas DC-6A accident near Egegik, Alaska, July 7, 1985
On July 7, 1985 at about 9:15 am local time, a Douglas DC-6A, registered N2878F, was destroyed in an accident near Egegik, Alaska. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91, subpart F). 3 people had minor injuries. 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 7, 1985 · about 9:15 am local time
- Place
- Egegik, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Douglas DC-6A · all DC-6As on the register
- Registration
- N2878F · no longer on the register · serial 44660
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91, subpart F)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AIRPLANE ACCELERATED TO V 1 AND STRUCK THROUGH ON SANDY BEACH. THE NOSE PITCHED UP AND THE PILOT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK ADJACENT BANK CAUGHT FIRE. IT WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 18,640 hours in all; 468 in this make and model; 75 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 22,655 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 882,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W R-2800-52W (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Ball Brothers, INC.
The flight
- Destination: ADQ Kodiak AK
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Wind: from 090° at 15 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 3 |
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.