# NTSB ANC05CA059: Cessna U206E, N9417G, Yakutat, AK, April 15, 2005

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: April 15, 2005, 08:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place: Yakutat, AK
- Coordinates: 59.967498, -141.659164
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.9675&lon=-141.6592&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 7, 2005
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 61341
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC05CA059
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61341/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC05CA059

## Probable cause

The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which resulted in a nose down, and structural damage to the wing.  A factor contributing to the accident was the soft sand.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose down, landing - roll

## Analysis

The commercial pilot routinely landed on the accident site beach to pickup mail.  On the accident landing, the nose wheel dug into soft sand, and the airplane nosed down, damaging the left wing.

## Factual narrative

On April 15, 2005, about 0800 Alaska daylight time, a wheel-equipped Cessna U206E airplane, N9417G, sustained substantial damage when it nosed down during the landing roll on a beach, about 60 miles northwest of Yakutat, Alaska.  The airplane was being operated by Air Juneau Inc, dba Yakutat Coastal Airlines, Yakutat, as a visual flight rules (VFR) positioning flight under Title14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred.  The solo commercial pilot was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and company VFR flight following procedures were in effect.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on April 18, the pilot said he was en route to a remote strip when he decided to land on a beach and pick up mail.  He said he had landed on the beach hundreds of times over the years, but this time during the landing roll the nose wheel dug into soft sand, and the airplane nosed down.  He said the left wing struck the ground, and received structural damage.  The pilot said there were no known preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9417G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9417G-2013-05-22), registration cancelled 2013-05-22, S/N U20601617, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna U206E
- Registry model: [Cessna U206E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-u206e) (registry code 2073350) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: U20601617
- Engines: Continental IO-520-F reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Operator: Yakutat Coastal, doing business as Yakutat Coastal
- Registered owner: Air Juneau Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Departed: PAYA, Yakutat, AK
- Destination: Yakutat, AK
- Flight plan: Company VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; flight hours: 5,500 total, 4,000 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20050415007709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050415007709A), Apr 15, 2005: Cessna U206E, Icy Bay, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft, N9417G, received substantial damage during a landing roll-out at Icy Bay, Alaska when it hit a soft spot in the sand and nosed over. The…

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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