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Cargo Flight to Remote Village Ends in Crash (N756HL)

Bethel, AK, US

On February 4, 2002, a Cessna 206 (registration N756HL) operated by Flight Alaska, Inc. was involved in an aviation accident near Bethel, AK. One person was killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's continued VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions, and his failure to maintain adequate ground clearance, which resulted in an in flight collision with terrain. 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 2026-09-03Data APIEditorial standards

A solo pilot on a CFR 135 cargo/mail flight to a remote coastal village crashed about 80 miles from departure. Weather included low visibility, snow squalls, and flat light. No pre-impact anomalies were found.

Flight Details and Discovery A solo commercial pilot departed on a CFR 135 on-demand cargo and U.S. mail flight bound for a remote coastal village. The aircraft did not reach its destination. A search and rescue satellite detected an emergency locator transmitter (ELT) signal, and wreckage was found approximately 80 miles from the departure airport along the intended flight path. The aircraft was equipped with an avionics package from the FAA's Capstone Program, which included GPS avionics, weather and traffic information via automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B), and terrain information on a multifunction display (MFD). Damage to the MFD prevented determination of the visual display option selected at the time of the accident.

Controlled flight into terrain

Related events

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Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 4 Feb 2002 Cessna 206 accident near Bethel, AK?

A solo pilot on a CFR 135 cargo/mail flight to a remote coastal village crashed about 80 miles from departure. Weather included low visibility, snow squalls, and flat light. No pre-impact anomalies were found.

Were there any fatalities in the 4 Feb 2002 Cessna 206 accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 1 fatality.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 4 Feb 2002 involved a Cessna 206, registration N756HL, operated by Flight Alaska, Inc., at Bethel, AK.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot's continued VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions, and his failure to maintain adequate ground clearance, which resulted in an in flight collision with terrain. Factors associated with the accident were flat light conditions, and snow-covered terrain.

More accident analyses

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20020228X00285. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.