Cessna U206G accident near Iliamna, Alaska, May 17, 1998
On May 17, 1998 at about 9:15 pm local time, a Cessna U206G, registered N756HG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Iliamna, Alaska (Iliamna 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 pilot's inadequate compensation for quartering tailwind conditions. A factor in the accident is the presence of a quartering tailwind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 17, 1998 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Iliamna, Alaska · Iliamna · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna U206G · all U206Gs on the register
- Registration
- N756HG · no longer on the register · serial U20604099
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The solo commercial pilot was returning to Iliamna, Alaska, after dropping off his passengers. A successful landing was made on runway 07 at the Iliamna Airport. After the landing roll out, the pilot made a left turn onto the intersecting runway 35 to taxi to the company parking area. The pilot stated that after he made the turn, it was difficult to maintain directional control due to high winds and a quartering tailwind condition. A gust of wind lifted the tail of the airplane, and it nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, doors, and rudder assembly. The pilot noted in his written statement that wind conditions at the time of the accident were 080 at 25 knots, with peak gusts to 34 knots.
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: 1,527 hours in all; 163 in this make and model; 136 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 1,445 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,366 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 9, 1998; 36 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-F56B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PJA Port Alsworth AK at 3:45 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 35, 5,080 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 25 knots, gusting 35
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: ovct at 6,300 ft
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 30°F (-1°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.
Other NTSB records under N756HG 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.