Cessna 206 accident near Kodiak, Alaska, November 5, 1995
On November 5, 1995 at about 8:45 pm local time, a Cessna 206, registered N7430N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kodiak, Alaska (Inner Harbor Seaplane airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate visual lookout. A factor associated with the accident is reduced visibility due to sun glare.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 5, 1995 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Kodiak, Alaska · Inner Harbor Seaplane · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 206 · all 206s on the register
- Registration
- N7430N · no longer on the register · serial U20603659
- 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 reported he was attempting to takeoff to the southeast in a float equipped airplane. The airplane became airborne, but settled onto the water in gusty wind conditions. The pilot said he continued the takeoff run, but struck an unseen metal marker buoy with the right wing. He said his vision to the right was diminished due to water on the windshield and sun glare.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,000 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 254 in the last 90 days; 99 in the last 30 days; 1,963 as pilot in command; 350 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,500 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 15, 1995; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-F48B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 9Z4 at 8:45 pm
- Destination: Kupreanof AK
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 215° at 9 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.