Cessna 206U and Cessna 206G mid-air collision near Taku, Alaska, June 17, 1990
On June 17, 1990 at about 6:30 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 206U (N9735Z) and Cessna 206G (N756EJ), were involved in a mid-air collision near Taku, Alaska. No one was hurt; 10 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT OF N9735Z (C-206U) TO SEE AND AVOID N756EJ (C-206G), AND FAILURE OF COMPANY MANAGEMENT TO ESTABLISH ADEQUATE SEPARATION PROCEDURES.
FAILURE OF THE PILOT OF N9735Z (C-206U) TO SEE AND AVOID N756EJ (C-206G), AND FAILURE OF COMPANY MANAGEMENT TO ESTABLISH ADEQUATE SEPARATION PROCEDURES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 17, 1990 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Taku, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 10 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 206U · all 206Us on the register
- Registration
- N9735Z · no longer on the register · serial U20606632
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 206G · all 206Gs on the register
- Registration
- N756EJ · registry record · serial U20604029
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 206U final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE TWO AIRCRAFT FROM THE SAME OPERATOR WERE CONDUCTING GLACIER SIGHTSEEING OPERATIONS WHEN THE MIDAIR COLLISION OCCURRED. BOTH AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN IN FREQUENT RADIO AND VISUAL CONTACT WITH EACH OTHER. AFTER N9735Z (C-206U) EXITED SOCKEYE VALLEY, BOTH AIRCRAFT PROCEEDED TO WEST TWIN GLACIER AT SAME ALTITUDE AND HEADING. N9735Z (C-206U) STRUCK N756EJ (C-206G) FROM BEHIND. BOTH AIRCRAFT LANDED SAFELY.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 206G final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE TWO AIRCRAFT FROM THE SAME OPERATOR WERE CONDUCTING GLACIER SIGHTSEEING OPERATIONS WHEN THE MIDAIR COLLISION OCCURRED. BOTH AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN IN FREQUENT RADIO AND VISUAL CONTACT WITH EACH OTHER. AFTER N9735Z (C-206U) EXITED SOCKEYE VALLEY, BOTH AIRCRAFT PROCEEDED TO WEST TWIN GLACIER AT SAME ALTITUDE AND HEADING. N9735Z (C-206U) STRUCK N756EJ (C-206G) FROM BEHIND. BOTH AIRCRAFT LANDED SAFELY.
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 for the Cessna 206U from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 6,000 hours in all; 140 in this make and model; 220 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days; 5,000 as pilot in command; 900 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,645 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 14, 1990; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-F13 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: JNU Juneau AK at 1:00 pm
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
The factual record for the Cessna 206G from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,500 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days; 7,700 as pilot in command; 1,300 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,175 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 12, 1990; 18 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-F9 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: JNU Juneau AK at 1:00 pm
- Runway 0
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.