Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

August 4, 1995 · Cessna 206 · N206EJ

Sterling, AK

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 4, 1995
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (3 uninjured)
Location
Sterling, AK
Aircraft
Cessna 206
Tail Number
N206EJ
Operator
Trevor Lofstedt
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ANC95LA127

THE PILOT OF CESSNA 206 FLOATPLANE, N206EJ, MADE A TOUCH-AND-GO LANDING ON A RIVER AND DEPARTED IN A SOUTHBOUND DIRECTION. HE THEN BEGAN A CLIMBING LEFT TURN TOWARD THE NORTH-NORTHEAST. IN THE SAME VICINITY, THE PILOT OF PIPER PA-18, N7KA, WAS IN LEVEL FLIGHT ON A WESTERLY HEADING AT ABOUT 1,000 FEET MEAN SEA LEVEL. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE TWO AIRPLANES CONVERGED. JUST BEFORE COLLIDING, THE PA-18 PILOT SAW THE CESSNA 206. HE IMMEDIATELY PULLED UP INTO A CLIMB, BUT THE OUTBOARD RIGHT WINGTIP OF THE CESSNA CONTACTED THE LEFT TIRE OF THE PA-18. BOTH AIRPLANES CONTINUED TO THEIR RESPECTIVE DEPARTURE AIRPORTS AND LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. THE WEATHER CONDITION AT THE TIME WAS REPORTED AS 4,000 TO 5,000 FEET SCATTERED; VISIBILITY 10 MILES. THE SUN WAS LOCATED ON A 277 DEGREE HEADING FROM THE ACCIDENT SITE AND 16.2 DEGREES ABOVE THE HORIZON.

NTSB Probable Cause

FAILURE OF BOTH PILOT'S TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT. THE LOW ANGLE OF THE SUN WAS A RELATED FACTOR.

Full Narrative

On August 3, 1995, about 2000 Alaska daylight time, a float equipped Cessna 206, N206EJ, collided with a tundra tire equipped Piper PA-18-150, N7KA, about 1,000 feet mean sea level (MSL), about 1 mile east of Sterling, Alaska. The accident area was near the intersection of the Moose river and the Kenai river. N206EJ was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight that departed Lake Hood Seaplane base, Anchorage, Alaska, about 1900. N7KA was being operated as a VFR local area personal flight that departed Soldotna airport, Soldotna, Alaska, about 1900. N206EJ, received substantial damage. N7KA was not damaged. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant of N206EJ, was not injured. The certificated private pilot and the sole passenger of N7KA were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot of N206EJ reported that he was practicing takeoff and landings and had just departed the Moose River in a southbound direction. He then began a climbing left turn toward the northeast. The pilot of N7KA indicated that he was in level flight on a westerly heading, following the north side of the Kenai river. He noticed N206EJ to the left and below his airplane and immediately pulled up into a climb. The outboard right wingtip of N206EJ contacted the left tire of N7KA. Both airplanes continued to their respective departure airports and landed without further incident. The pilot of N206EJ indicated that he announced his intentions on a radio frequency of 122.9 while conducting his takeoff and landings. The pilot of N7KA indicated that he had been monitoring the Soldotna, Alaska, Automated Weather Observation System (AWOS) radio frequency but had changed to 122.9 at the end of N206EJ's position report and did not hear the entire transmission. Both pilot's reported that the weather conditions at the time consisted of scattered clouds between 4,000 to 5,000 feet; visibility, 10 miles; temperature, 60 degrees F; wind, 180 degrees at 7 to 10 knots. The position of the sun at the time of the accident was computed to be on a 277 degree heading from the accident site and 16.2 degrees above the horizon.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time20:00 AKDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 206
Tail NumberN206EJ
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorTrevor Lofstedt
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · IO-520-F · Reciprocating · 300 | Lycoming · O-320-B2B · Reciprocating · 160
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (3 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured3
Total3
Crew 1Age 37 · Third Class
Crew 2Age 20 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind180° @ 7 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point61 F / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data