Cessna U206 accident near Fairbanks, Alaska, May 30, 1998
On May 30, 1998 at about 2:00 am local time, a Cessna U206, registered N414UJ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fairbanks, Alaska (Gold King airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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 inadequate compensation for wind conditions. Factors associated with the accident are variable winds, and windshear.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 30, 1998 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Fairbanks, Alaska · Gold King · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna U206 · all U206s on the register
- Registration
- N414UJ · no longer on the register · serial U20602683
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported he was on short final approach to a remote airstrip. He said the airplane was about 20 feet above the ground, when a strong windshear was encountered. He applied full power in an attempt to go-around, but the airspeed dropped rapidly, and the airplane lost altitude and was pushed to the left. The airplane collided with trees along the left side of the runway.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 2,100 hours in all; 600 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 2,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,922 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 9, 1997; 46 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-F9K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FAI AK at 10:30 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 20 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 100 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.