Cessna 206 accident near Bear Creek No.1, Alaska, June 29, 1989
On June 29, 1989 at about 5:50 am local time, a Cessna 206, registered N3902G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bear Creek No.1, Alaska (Bear Creek No. 1 airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOTS OVERCONFIDENCE IN PERSONAL ABILITY, THE GUSTY CROSSWIND CONDITIONS AND THE SUNGLARE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 29, 1989 · about 5:50 am local time
- Place
- Bear Creek No.1, Alaska · Bear Creek No. 1
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 206 · all 206s on the register
- Registration
- N3902G · no longer on the register · serial U-206-0902
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THIS PRIVATE PILOT CRASHED WHILE HAULING FUEL INTO A PRIVATE MOUNTAINOUS AIRSTRIP. HE REPORTED THAT HE LANDED HARD FROM ABOUT 15 FEET WHEN HE ENCOUNTERED A DOWNDRAFT. THE AIRPLANE BOUNCED, AT WHICH TIME THE PILOT LOST SIGHT OF THE RUNWAY, DUE TO LANDING INTO THE SUN. THE PILOT THEN LOST CONTROL, AND THE AIRPLANE CRASHED OFF THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, AND WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 998 hours in all; 750 in this make and model; 91 in the last 90 days; 33 in the last 30 days; 739 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-F (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: FAI Fairbanks AK at 9:30 pm
- Destination: Bear Creek No.1 AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 31, 2,800 ft by 70 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.