# NTSB ANC72AA031: Cessna U206, N3978G, Wainwright, AK, December 22, 1971

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 22, 1971
- Place: Wainwright, AK · WAINWRIGHT, AK
- Location: 70.6463° N, 159.9585° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Wainwright, AK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=70.6463&lon=-159.9585&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 15, 1972
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 164550
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC72AA031
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC72AA031

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2786  71/12/22   WAINWRIGHT,ALAS     CESSNA U206         CR-  1  0  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1630                    N3978G              PX-  0  0  0  AIR TAXI-CARGO            AGE 49, 8500 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            82 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - WAINWRIGHT
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          WAINWRIGHT,ALAS             BARROW,ALAS
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                TAKEOFF: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - INSTRUMENTS-MISREAD OR FAILED TO READ
        REMARKS- TKOF,LOW L TURN TOWARD AREA DEVOID OF NGT VIS REF.FIRST GND CTC MARK ABT 12FT APRX 1/2M1 S OF ARPT
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3978G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3978G-1972-02-10), registration cancelled 1972-02-10, S/N U206-0978, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA U206
- Registry model: [Cessna U206](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-u206) (registry code 2073306) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Wainwright

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

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