Cessna U206G N734VB

Summary

On 20 July 2015 at about 03:15 local time, a Cessna U206G registered N734VB, operated by Michael J. Zagula, was involved in an accident near Trapper Creek, Alaska, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

20 July 2015 at 03:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Trapper Creek, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

62.3272, -150.2689

Aircraft

Cessna U206G

Registration

N734VB

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Michael J. Zagula

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Trapper Creek → Trapper Creek

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC15FA050

1 person died.

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees while intentionally maneuvering close to the ground.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was performing a series of low passes over a group of people at an outdoor wedding reception party. Witnesses observed the airplane fly over the party at near tree-top level traveling between 100 and120 knots. The airplane made two successful passes over the group, and, on the third pass, the airplane entered a right turn and initiated a climb just before impacting the top of a spruce tree. The climb continued briefly before the airplane rolled inverted and descended through the trees to ground impact. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Toxicology testing identified likely impairing levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and low levels of diazepam in the pilot's blood. However, diazepam and THC levels are known to change after death and may be elevated due to movement of the drugs out of storage sites into blood. Therefore, it was not possible to determine if the pilot was impaired from the effects of THC and/or diazepam at the time of the accident.  

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.