Cessna 206 accident near Sekiu, Washington, January 16, 1989
On January 16, 1989 at about 5:45 pm local time, a Cessna 206, registered N732FN, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sekiu, Washington (Sekiu airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
PILOT ATTEMPTED A LANDING IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, RATHER THAN POSTPONE THE BUSINESS TRIP AND RETURN TO ORIGIN OR OTHER SAFE AREA. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE TURBULENCE AND GUSTY WINDS ALONG WITH THE SELF INDUCED PRESSURE TO MAKE THE BUSINESS FLT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 16, 1989 · about 5:45 pm local time
- Place
- Sekiu, Washington · Sekiu · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 206 · all 206s on the register
- Registration
- N732FN · no longer on the register · serial U20604669
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS PASSING THROUGH MOUNTAIN STRAITS ON A BUSINESS TRIP TO A COASTAL DESTINATION WHEN STRONG WINDS AND TURBULENCE WERE ENCOUNTERED. THE PLT ELECTED TO ATTEMPT AN LANDING AT A STRIP SHORT OF THE DESTINATION. THE PLT LOST CONTROL OF THE ACFT DURING THE APPROACH AND IT CONTACTED THE TERRAIN ON SHORT FINAL. WINDS WERE 30 KTS GUSTING TO 40 KTS WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED.
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: 500 hours in all; 375 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,241 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 12, 1988; 47 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Lake Stevens WA at 5:00 pm
- Destination: Neah Bay WA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 26, 2,980 ft by 35 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 30 knots, gusting 40
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.
Other NTSB records under N732FN 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.