In March 1185, the Heike clan was finally defeated at the battle of Dan-no-ura, and Yukinori and his cousins, TAIRA no Sukemori and TAIRA no Arimori, killed themselves by jumping into water and drowning ("Heike Monogatari" [The Tales of the Heike]).
元暦2年（1185年）3月、壇ノ浦の戦いにおいて最終的な敗北を喫し、従兄弟の平資盛、平有盛とともに入水自殺（平家物語）。