Casualties unknown

Floatplane Nosed Over During Beach Landing on Third Trip (N756ZV)

Platinum, AK, US

On July 7, 1997, a Cessna U206G (registration N756ZV) operated by Yute Air Alaska was involved in an aviation accident near Platinum, AK. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's decision to land with a tailwind and touch down too close to the beach, resulting in an inability to stop before the nose gear contacted the ground. 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.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-06-10Data APIEditorial standards

A float-equipped air taxi aircraft nosed over after landing too close to the shore with a tailwind during its third trip of the day.

What happened

The pilot was operating an air taxi service, conducting his third flight of the day to the accident site. During this specific leg, he attempted to land the float-equipped airplane on a beach area. The pilot reported that he approached the landing zone with a tailwind component. He touched down at a distance from the shoreline that proved insufficient for stopping the aircraft safely. Consequently, the airplane continued moving forward onto the dry sand and subsequently nosed over.

The investigation

The investigation focused on the mechanics of the landing and the immediate aftermath. The pilot's account indicated that the proximity to the beach was a critical factor in the outcome. No mechanical failures were cited as contributing factors; the incident was attributed directly to the landing technique and environmental conditions.

Probable cause

The pilot's decision to land with a tailwind and touch down too close to the beach, resulting in an inability to stop before the nose gear contacted the ground.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001208X08288. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.