Cessna 208B accident near Newtok, Alaska, December 13, 2005
On December 13, 2005 at about 7:50 pm local time, a Cessna 208B, registered N454SF, was substantially damaged in an accident near Newtok, Alaska. It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate compensation for gusting crosswind conditions, which resulted in the airplane exiting the runway, encountering snow, and the nose gear collapsing. Factors associated with the accident were the gusting wind and the icy runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 13, 2005 · about 7:50 pm local time
- Place
- Newtok, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 208B · all 208Bs on the register
- Registration
- N454SF · registry record · serial 208B-0797
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airline transport certificated pilot of the Title 14, CFR Part 135 flight was taking off on runway 33, when a gust of wind blew the airplane to the left edge of the runway where it encountered a snow berm. The pilot reported the runway was ice-covered, and the wind was from 060 degrees at 20 knots, with gusts to 25 knots. The airplane exited the runway, the nose gear collapsed, and the left wing struck the ground. According to the director of operations for the operator, there were no known mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident. He said the airplane sustained damage to the left wing, nose gear and propeller during the accident.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,313 hours in all; 282 in this make and model; 273 in the last 90 days; 64 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: September 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, April 1, 2005
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-114A (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PAEW Newtok AK
- Destination: PABE Bethel AK
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 20 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 23°F (-5°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.20 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N454SF the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.