Cessna U206 accident near Nenana, Alaska, July 11, 2020
On July 11, 2020 at about 1:00 am local time, a Cessna U206, registered N756DJ, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Nenana, Alaska (Pvt airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during a soft field takeoff on a dirt airstrip, which resulted in an impact with a vehicle.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 11, 2020 · about 1:00 am local time · cases in 2020
- Place
- Nenana, Alaska · Pvt · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna U206 G · all U206s on the register
- Registration
- N756DJ · registry record · serial U20604005
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he was performing a soft field takeoff at a private dirt airstrip with a right crosswind. During the takeoff roll, staying on the left side of the airstrip to clear a known dip, the nosewheel lifted off the ground quickly as expected, however he now had no turning ability. The pilot utilized right rudder input to compensate for the cross wind, but the ground speed was too low and he did not have enough rudder authority to keep the left wing from impacting a parked bulldozer on the side of the airstrip. The airplane's left wing was substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions 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 takeoff defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Ground vehicle › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 500 hours in all; 53 in the last 90 days; 395 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 30, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2020; 633 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Bik Air LLC
The flight
- Departed from: PVT Nenana AK
- Destination: AK7 Fairbanks AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 360, 4,000 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 5 knots, gusting 5
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photo 1 – View of airplane with damaged left wing
Photo 2 – View of bulldozer the airplane struck during takeoffThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on October 9, 2020. 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 | Accident Photo | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N756DJ the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N756DJ on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Cessna U206 Stationair 798 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,677 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Continental IO-520 9,482 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Gold King Creek Airport · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Alaska 5,932 since 1982 · 825 in the last ten years
- Alaska 9,142 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N756DJ 3 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR20CA232.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.