Cessna 206 accident near Fairbanks, Alaska, August 26, 1992
On August 26, 1992 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Cessna 206, registered N711FY, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fairbanks, Alaska (Buzby Mine Strip airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT WAS NOT ATTAINED BY THE PILOT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE TAILWIND AND THE IMPROPER APPROACH PROCEDURE USED BY THE PILOT, AN INADEQUATE BACKGROUND CHECK OF PILOT IN HIRING BY COMPANY/MGMT, INADEQUATE TRAINING AND CHECK OF PILOT BY COMPANY/MGMT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 26, 1992 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Fairbanks, Alaska · Buzby Mine Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 206 · all 206s on the register
- Registration
- N711FY · registry record · serial 0459
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE EXPERIENCED TRANSPORT CATEGORY PILOT, WITH NO RECENT EXPERIENCE IN LIGHT UTILITY AIRPLANES, LANDED LONG WITH A TAILWIND ON MOUNTAINOUS GRAVEL RUNWAY. THE STEEP DROP OFF WITH RISING TERRAIN AHEAD PREVENTED A GO AROUND. THE PILOT ELECTED TO GROUND LOOP AND SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED THE WING AND LANDING GEAR. THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT RECOVERED AFTER 5 MONTHS DUE TO AREA REMOTENESS. THE COMPANY WAS ENGAGED IN DRUM FUEL TRANSPORT TO REMOTE STRIPS, AND REQUIRED NO CHECK OUT IN TYPE AIRCRAFT, AND PERFORMED NO BACKGROUND CHECK OF EXPERIENCE.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 32,000 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 70 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 31,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11,378 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 1900; 90 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO540-F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FAI Fairbanks AK at 5:50 pm
- Destination: Buzby Mine AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 4, 1,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.