Cessna 206 accident near Kahiltna River, Alaska, June 8, 1991
On June 8, 1991 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Cessna 206, registered N5039U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kahiltna River, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S EXCESSIVE DESCENT AND LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE AIRCRAFT. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE SOFT CONDITION OF THE SAND BAR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 8, 1991 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Kahiltna River, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 206 · all 206s on the register
- Registration
- N5039U · no longer on the register · serial 2060039
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT RECENTLY UPGRADED FROM A CESSNA 180 AIRPLANE TO A CESSNA 206 AIRPLANE. HE HAD NOT LANDED THE CESSNA 206 AIRPLANE ON THIS SAND BAR BEFORE, ONLY THE CESSNA 180. HE STATED HE LANDED A LITTLE 'HOT' AND AFTER PASSING THE RIVER BANK HE 'CUT' HIS THROTTLE TO IDLE. THE AIRPLANE LANDED HARD AND BOUNCED INTO THE AIR. UPON TOUCHING DOWN THE SECOND TIME, THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. EXAMINATION OF THE NOSE GEAR STRUT ASSEMBLY SHOWED NO MECHANICAL DIFFICULTIES.
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: 1,188 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 1,170 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,750 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 11, 1991; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Greatland Marketing INC.
The flight
- Departed from: LHD Anchorage AK at 2:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.