Cessna 206 accident near Anchorage, Alaska, August 16, 1989
On August 16, 1989 at about 8:15 pm local time, a Cessna 206, registered N6327Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Anchorage, Alaska (Campbell Lake airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT ALLOWED THE AIRCRAFT TO LIFT-OFF PREMATURELY, THEN INADVERTENTLY ENTER A STALL/MUSH. THE GUSTY/CROSSWIND CONDITIONS WERE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 16, 1989 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Anchorage, Alaska · Campbell Lake · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 206 · all 206s on the register
- Registration
- N6327Z · no longer on the register · serial U20606237
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT BEGAN TAKING OFF FROM THE WEST END OF CAMPBELL LAKE WITH A RIGHT QUARTERING CROSSWIND. HE RPRTD THAT THE ACFT 'HAD JUST CLEARED THE WATER AT ABOUT 50 KNOTS PLUS (WHEN) A LARGE GUST OF WIND PICKED THE PLANE UP ABOUT 10-15 FEET, LIFTED THE RIGHT WING SOME, AND THEN SLAMMED THE PLANE ONTO THE LAKE.' SUBSEQUENTLY, THE STRUTS WERE DAMAGED, BUT THE PLT WAS ABLE TO TAXI BACK TO THE DOCK. NO PREIMPACT MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF THE ACFT WAS RPRTD. A WITNESS SAID THE ACFT APPEARED TO LIFT-OFF PREMATURELY WITH AN EXCESSIVELY NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE, THEN STALL & HIT THE WATER.
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
- Flight time: 1,805 hours in all; 303 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 1,765 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 3,500 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 8 knots, gusting 12
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 2:50 pm from ANC, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.