Cessna U206C accident near Nikiski, Alaska, July 10, 1991
On July 10, 1991 at about 1:20 am local time, a Cessna U206C, registered N3941G, was destroyed in an accident near Nikiski, Alaska (Butler airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
POOR JUDGEMENT OF THE PILOT, DUE TO IMPAIRMENT FROM CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED, WHILE MANEUVERING DURING AN ABORTED LANDING (GO-AROUND). FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE OPEN CARGO DOOR, DISABLED FLAPS, AND THE PILOT'S DISTRACTION (DIVERTED ATTENTION).
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 10, 1991 · about 1:20 am local time
- Place
- Nikiski, Alaska · Butler
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna U206C · all U206Cs on the register
- Registration
- N3941G · no longer on the register · serial U206-0941
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER TAKING OFF FROM A BEACH WITH A HEAVY LOAD OF CLAMS, THE PILOT RADIOED THAT THE AIRPLANE'S CARGO DOOR HAD COME AJAR AND THE FLAPS WERE STUCK AT THE 10 DEGREE POSITION. HE CONTINUED THE FLIGHT TO THE HOME STRIP. AFTER A GO-AROUND AT THE 1900 FT HOME BASE STRIP, THE AIRPLANE WAS SEEN TO MAKE A STEEP LEFT, THEN A RIGHT TURN. THE AIRPLANE THEN DESCENDED FROM WITNESSES VIEW AND CRASHED INTO A WOODED AREA. THE LOWER LOCKING ROD OF THE AFT CARGO DOOR WAS FOUND TO BE BENT. TESTS SHOWED THE PILOT'S BLOOD HAD AN ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 342 MG/DL (0.342%) AND HIS URINE HAD AN ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 246 MG/DL (0.246%). ALSO, A METABOLITE OF NICOTINE AND DOXYLAMINE (AN OVER-THE-COUNTER ANTIHISTAMINE SLEEP-AID) WERE DETECTED IN THE PILOT'S BLOOD. A 5000 FT RUNWAY WAS LOCATED LESS THAN A MILE FROM THE HOME BASE STRIP.
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: 5,400 hours in all; 600 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 5,400 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,878 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, May 9, 1991; 118 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-F (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Dahmen Seafoods, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Polly Creek AK at 8:00 pm
- Destination: NONE
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 18,000 ft; scat at 2,600 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:47 pm from ENA, 10 miles away
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.