Cessna 208B accident near Aniak, Alaska, May 15, 2014
On May 15, 2014 at about 4:50 am local time, a 1999 Cessna 208B, registered N1275N, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi near Aniak, Alaska (Aniak airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a forklift while taxiing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 15, 2014 · about 4:50 am local time
- Place
- Aniak, Alaska · Aniak · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 208B B, built 1999 · all 208Bs on the register
- Registration
- N1275N · no longer on the register · serial 208B0756
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After unloading the airplane, the pilot did a walk around, then started the engine. As he began taxiing for takeoff, he misjudged the distance from the horizontal stabilizer and a fork lift that was parked near the cargo door. The horizontal stabilizer hit the forklift sustaining substantial damage. The operator stated that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Ground collision during taxi defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Task monitoring/vigilance › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Ground vehicle › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,101 hours in all; 2,002 in this make and model; 246 in the last 90 days; 83 in the last 30 days; 5,349 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 26, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 14,608 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, May 13, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 7,449 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W PT6A SER (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Hageland Aviation Services INC
The flight
- Departed from: ANI Aniak AK
- Destination: BET Bethel AK
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.36 inHg
- Observation at 4:56 am from PANI
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.