On August 30, 1991, a Cessna 206 (registration N2070K) operated by Cliff Gurske was involved in an aviation accident near Kelly River, AK. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during rollout, resulting in the nose wheel striking a ditch. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A personal flight originating at the Noatak River ended with a nose-over after the aircraft's nose wheel struck a ditch during rollout on a sand bar.
What happened
The flight originated at the Noatak River following the drop-off of passengers. The intended destination for this personal flight was the Kelly River. Upon landing on a sand bar, the aircraft encountered an issue during the rollout phase. The nose wheel struck a ditch, causing the airplane to nosed over. The pilot reported no mechanical irregularities with the aircraft prior to the incident.
Findings
The primary factor in this accident was the ground handling of the aircraft on uneven terrain. The interaction between the nose wheel and a hidden ditch during the rollout phase led to the structural upset.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during rollout, resulting in the nose wheel striking a ditch.
A SkyWalk Join't 3 paraglider crashed into the ground near Las Vizcachas, Chile, on September 1, 2024. The pilot and passenger sustained serious spinal…
PARAPENTE (ULTRALIVIANO NO MOTORIZADO)·2024-09-01DGAC Chile
A Cessna 172N struck electrical cables while on final approach to land at Aucó Aerodrome in Chile. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained damage…
A Bombardier DHC-8-402 suffered a tail strike during landing at Puerto Williams on September 9, 2024. All 76 occupants were unharmed, but the aircraft…
A MYD JS-MD 3 glider veered off the runway and struck a wall at Vitacura Aerodrome on January 6, 2025. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained…
A recreational paraglider flight in Puchuncaví, Chile, ended with the pilot sustaining serious injuries after a rapid descent and impact with a hillside on…
PARAPENTE (ULTRALIVIANO NO MOTORIZADO)·2025-03-29DGAC Chile
A Tecnam P2006T landed on its belly at an aerodrome in Poland after the crew failed to confirm landing gear deployment. The incident resulted in no injuries…