Cessna U-206G accident near Anchorage, Alaska, June 21, 1989
On June 21, 1989 at about 3:05 pm local time, a Cessna U-206G, registered N8773Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Anchorage, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO CONDUCT A PROPER PRE-FLIGHT INSPECTION AND REMOVE THE TAIL MOORING FROM THE FLOAT PLANE. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S OVER CONFIDENCE IN HIS PERSONAL ABILITY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 21, 1989 · about 3:05 pm local time
- Place
- Anchorage, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna U-206G · all U-206Gs on the register
- Registration
- N8773Q · registry record · serial U20603526
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACCIDENT REPORT SUBMITTED BY THE FLYING CLUB CHIEF INDICATED THAT THE PILOT DID NOT RELEASE THE TAIL TIEDOWN DURING HIS PREFLIGHT INSPECTION. IT WAS ATTACHED TO A 4X4 POST IN A CONCRETE WEIGHT. DURING THE ATTEMPTED TAKEOFF THE AIRPLANE WOULD NOT GET ON STEP. THE TAKEOFF WAS ABORTED. A SECOND TAKEOFF WAS ATTEMPTED FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE LAKE. DURING THE TAKEOFF THE NOSE BEGAN TO PITCH UP APPROACHING A STALL. THE PILOT PUSHED THE YOKE FORWARD & THE AIRPLANE SETTLED BACK ONTO THE WATER JUST PRIOR TO IMPACT WITH THE LAKE'S DEPARTURE END SHORELINE.
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, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 331 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 247 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,253 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 18, 1989; 33 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-F9 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: U.S. Air Force
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 75 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.