Cessna 207A and Cessna 207A accident near Bethel, Alaska, August 18, 2008
On August 18, 2008 at about 7:00 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 207A (N9935M) and Cessna 207A (N7380U), were involved in the same accident near Bethel, Alaska (Bethel airport). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's excessive taxi speed while taxiing to the runway, and his failure to see the stopped airplane ahead of him in time to avoid a collision.
The pilot of the other airplane's excessive taxi speed while taxiing to the runway, and his failure to see the stopped airplane ahead of him in time to avoid a collision.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 18, 2008 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Bethel, Alaska · Bethel · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 207A · all 207As on the register
- Registration
- N9935M · registry record · serial 20700751
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 207A · all 207As on the register
- Registration
- N7380U · no longer on the register · serial 20700428
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 207A final · quoted from the NTSB record
Two airplanes of the same make and model and operated by the same air taxi operator were taxiing to the runway from the ramp area. Airplane "B" had stopped in the ramp area, when airplane "A" came from behind and struck airplane "B's" left wing with its right wing. Both airplanes were preparing to depart on Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 air taxi flights. The director of operations for the operator indicated that there were no mechanical problems with either airplane and that the pilot of airplane "A" was taxiing too fast for the conditions and didn't see the other airplane in time to stop. Both airplanes received substantial damage.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 207A final · quoted from the NTSB record
Two airplanes of the same make and model and operated by the same air taxi operator were taxiing to the runway from the ramp area. Airplane "B" had stopped in the ramp area, when airplane "A" came from behind and struck airplane "B's" left wing with its right wing. Both airplanes were preparing to depart on Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 air taxi flights. The director of operations for the operator indicated that there were no mechanical problems with either airplane and that the pilot of airplane "A" was taxiing too fast for the conditions and didn't see the other airplane in time to stop. Both airplanes received substantial damage.
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 for the Cessna 207A from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi (to runway) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Surface speed/braking › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,954 hours in all; 3,322 in this make and model; 358 in the last 90 days; 341 in the last 30 days; 3,617 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, July 29, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor IO 520 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PABE Bethel AK at 2:00 pm
- Destination: EEK Eek AK
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 100 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 1:53 pm from pabe
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 207A from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during standing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Surface speed/braking › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot of other aircraft
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot of other aircraft
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,500 hours in all; 6,000 in this make and model; 210 in the last 90 days
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor IO 520 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PABE Bethel AK
- Destination: AQH Quinhagak AK
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.
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.