Cessna 206 accident near Skwentna, Alaska, August 9, 1994
On August 9, 1994 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Cessna 206, registered N14C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Skwentna, Alaska (River Strip airport). It was a positioning 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
THE PILOTS INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE HIGH WIND CONDITION DURING TAKEOFF. THE WIND WAS A FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 9, 1994 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Skwentna, Alaska · River 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
- N14C · registry record · serial U20602803
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT HAD DROPPED OFF 2 SHEEP HUNTERS AT THE REMOTE TUNDRA STRIP, AND WAS DEPARTING ON A CROSS-COUNTRY POSITIONING FLIGHT. THE AIRSTRIP ORIENTATION WAS 10-20 DEG TO THE LEFT OF THE PREVAILING WINDS, REPORTED BY THE PILOT AS 30 MPH. THE PILOT SELECTED 20 DEG OF FLAPS AND BEGAN HIS TAKEOFF ROLL. FOLLOWING LIFT-OFF, THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO ROLL TO THE LEFT. THE PILOT APPLIED MAXIMUM RIGHT AILERON AND RIGHT RUDDER; HOWEVER, THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO DIVERGE TO THE LEFT. THE PILOT THEN ABORTED THE TAKEOFF, THE LEFT WING STRUCK THE GROUND, AND THE AIRPLANE PIVOTED 180 DEG TO THE LEFT. THE AIRPLANE WAS ROBERTSON STOL EQUIPPED. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE 20 DEG FLAP SETTING ALLOWED FOR THE MOST MINIMAL AILERON TRAVEL, AND A 10 DEG FLAP SETTING MAY HAVE HELPED GIVE MORE ROLL AUTHORITY.
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
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,500 hours in all; 6,500 in this make and model; 180 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 8,400 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,680 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 1, 1994; 86 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: MRI Anchorage AK
- Runway 0, 900 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 24 knots, gusting 28
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
Other NTSB records under N14C the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.