Cessna 207 accident near Homer, Alaska, June 6, 2017
On June 6, 2017 at about 7:15 pm local time, a 1980 Cessna 207, registered N207RB, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (aborted after touchdown) near Homer, Alaska. It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's decision to land on unsuitable terrain, which resulted in the nosewheel breaking and a subsequent noseover.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 6, 2017 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Homer, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 207 A, built 1980 · all 207s on the register
- Registration
- N207RB · registry record · serial 20700606
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, while landing on a beach, he "felt a significant push to the right toward the water and was concerned with going into the water" He added that he initiated a go-around, but the nosewheel "caught and apparently broke off." The propeller then struck the sand, the airplane slid, the tail kicked over, and the airplane came to rest on its back. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (aborted after touchdown) defining event
- Landing gear collapse during landing (aborted after touchdown)
- Dragged wing/rotor/float/other during landing (aborted after touchdown)
- Nose over/nose down during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › (general) › Decision related to condition
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,409 hours in all; 11 in this make and model; 47 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 1,248 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 21, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 21,450.2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 3, 2016
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520F (piston); 1,360 hours total
- Operator: Northair, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: ENA Kenai AK at 6:36 pm
- Destination: Homer AK
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.72 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on December 15, 2017. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | N207RB Pilot Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Accident Photo | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.