Cessna U206 accident near Anchorage, Alaska, May 14, 1988
On May 14, 1988 at about 4:58 pm local time, a Cessna U206, registered N4844X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Anchorage, Alaska (Anchorage Int'L airport). 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 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
- May 14, 1988 · about 4:58 pm local time
- Place
- Anchorage, Alaska · Anchorage Int'L · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna U206 · all U206s on the register
- Registration
- N4844X · no longer on the register · serial U20605553
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A DEAF-MUTE ADULT MALE, WHO HAS A HISTORY OF MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS, AND WHO WAS A MENTAL HEALTH WARD OF THE STATE OF ALASKA AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, ENTERED A CESSNA 206 AIRPLANE EQUIPPED WITH AMPHIBIOUS FLOATS WITHOUT PERMISSION WHILE IT WAS PARKED ON AN UNCONTROLLED RAMP AREA NEAR ANCHORAGE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. HE SUBSEQUENTLY STARTED THE KEYLESS AIRPLANE AND TAXIED IT AT NEARLY FULL POWER FOR APPROXIMATELY 185 FEET UNTIL IT COLLIDED WITH A COMMERCIAL BUILDING AND A PARKED AUTOMOBILE. THE 'PILOT' WAS APPREHENDED AND TAKEN INTO CUSTODY BY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.
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
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 18 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:00 pm from ANC
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.