Cessna U206F accident near Eveleth, Minnesota, December 29, 1983
On December 29, 1983 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Cessna U206F, registered N9611G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Eveleth, Minnesota (Ely Lake airport). It was a personal 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 29, 1983 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Eveleth, Minnesota · Ely Lake · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna U206F · all U206Fs on the register
- Registration
- N9611G · no longer on the register · serial U20601811
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT AFTER TAKING OFF, THE CABIN BEGAN TO FILL WITH SMOKE. HE RETURNED TO THE ARPT FOR A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING; HOWEVER, DURING TOUCHDOWN, THE LEFT WING COLLIDED WITH A SNOWBANK BESIDE THE RWY. AN EXAM OF THE ACFT REVEALED THAT WITH THE ENG SHUT DOWN, NO SMOKE WOULD DEVELOPE WHEN THE MASTER SWITCH WAS TURNED ON. HOWEVER, AFTER THE ENG WAS STARTED, SMOKE APPEARED.
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
- Flight time: 399 hours in all; 399 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 358 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 855 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 20, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: Grand Rapids MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 1,800 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 5 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 19°F (-7°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 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.
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.