Cessna 208B accident near Mekoryuk, Alaska, December 3, 2012
On December 3, 2012 at about 2:50 pm local time, a Cessna 208B, registered N169LJ, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Mekoryuk, Alaska (Mekoryuk airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 1 person had minor injuries; 8 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The total loss of engine power as a result of a fractured first-stage compressor blade due to fatigue cracking. The source of the fatigue crack could not be determined due to secondary damage sustained to the fracture surface.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 3, 2012 · about 2:50 pm local time
- Place
- Mekoryuk, Alaska · Mekoryuk · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 8 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 208B · all 208Bs on the register
- Registration
- N169LJ · registry record · serial 208B0599
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Shortly after the scheduled commuter flight departed with the second-in-command (SIC) at the controls, the engine "coughed," started vibrating, and lost power. The SIC attempted to restart the engine, but was unsuccessful. Subsequently, the pilot-in-command assumed control of the airplane and landed on a frozen bay, which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane's right wing and fuselage. A postaccident examination of the airplane's engine revealed that one of the first-stage compressor blades had fractured due to fatigue cracking. The source of the fatigue crack could not be determined due to secondary damage sustained to the fracture surface.
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
What happened, in order
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during initial climb defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during initial climb
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (turbine/turboprop) › Compressor section › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (turbine/turboprop) › Compressor section › Failure
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,932 hours in all; 2,732 in this make and model; 170 in the last 90 days; 69 in the last 30 days; 7,332 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 12, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 923 hours in all; 368 in this make and model; 174 in the last 90 days; 52 in the last 30 days; 417 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 6, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11,516 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, November 29, 2012; 123 hours since
- Seats: 12
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W PT6A SER (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Hageland Aviation Services
The flight
- Departed from: PAMY Mekoryuk AK at 2:45 pm
- Destination: PABE Bethel AK
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 9°F (-13°C), dew point 1°F (-17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.25 inHg
- Observation at 2:56 pm from PAMY, 4 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 6 |
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.