Cessna 206 accident near Noatak, Alaska, July 16, 1994
On July 16, 1994 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Cessna 206, registered N8287Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Noatak, Alaska. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 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 SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE LANDING AREA. A FACTOR WAS A 'CUT BANK' IN THE LANDING AREA.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 16, 1994 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Noatak, 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
- N8287Q · registry record · serial U20603148
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT 'DRAGGED' THE GRAVEL BAR, LOCATED ON THE KELLY RIVER, THREE TIMES AND DID NOT SEE ANYTHING UNUSUAL. HE HAD LANDED IN THAT AREA DURING THREE PREVIOUS FLIGHTS. HE LANDED ON THE GRAVEL BAR AND DURING THE LANDING ROLL OUT THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A 'CUT BANK.' THE AIRPLANE'S NOSE GEAR WAS SHEARED AND THE MAIN LANDING GEAR WAS PUSHED REARWARD. THE COLOR OF THE GRAVEL IN THE LANDING AREA AND THE 'CUT BANK' WERE THE SAME.
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, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,835 hours in all; 3,313 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OTZ Kotzebue AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 90 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.