Cessna 207 accident near Bethel, Alaska, September 10, 1988
On September 10, 1988 at about 5:58 am local time, a Cessna 207, registered N6470H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bethel, Alaska (Bethel airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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
- September 10, 1988 · about 5:58 am local time
- Place
- Bethel, Alaska · Bethel · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 207 · all 207s on the register
- Registration
- N6470H · registry record · serial 20700534
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS AN AIRCRAFT MECHANIC FOR THE OPERATOR OF THE AIRPLANE, AND WAS ENROUTE TO ANOTHER AIRPORT TO REPAIR A COMPANY AIRPLANE. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE DID NOT DO A COMPLETE JOB OF PREFLIGHTING THE AIRPLANE, AND ATTEMPTED TO TAKEOFF WITH THE CONTROL WHEEL LOCK (A NAIL) STILL IN PLACE. HE TRIED UNSUCCESSFULLY TO REMOVE THE NAIL, AND THEN TRIED TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF, BUT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE AIRPLANE BEFORE IT RAN OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY AND NOSED OVER.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,107 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 796 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-F13B (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Yute Air Alaska
The flight
- Destination: AK85 Kwigillinok AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 6,399 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 030° at 16 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 10,000 ft; scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 39°F (4°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.
Other NTSB records under N6470H the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.