Cessna 208B accident near Egegik, Alaska, June 20, 2014
On June 20, 2014 at about 2:30 am local time, a 1999 Cessna 208B, registered N208SM, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Egegik, Alaska. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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 loss of situational awareness during the takeoff roll resulting in a collision with a refrigeration trailer.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 20, 2014 · about 2:30 am local time
- Place
- Egegik, Alaska · 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
- N208SM · registry record · serial 208B0749
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was departing from a road lined with refrigeration trailers located on a tidal beach. He said that during the takeoff roll he noticed a red buoy located in his departure path. He reduced the throttle and attempted to maneuver around the buoy striking the right wing on a refrigeration trailer. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. In the recommendation section of the NTSB Accident/Incident Reporting Form 6120.1, the operator stated that the accident may have been prevented if the pilot had followed company policy and walked the beach to look for obstructions prior to departure.
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 takeoff defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Perception/orientation/illusion › Situational awareness › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of policy/procedure › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Debris/dirt/foreign object › Response/compensation
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Ground vehicle › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,963 hours in all; 841 in this make and model; 214 in the last 90 days; 97 in the last 30 days; 1,635 as pilot in command; 166 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 15, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 18,403 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, June 18, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 8,750 lb
- Seats: 9
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W PT6A SER (turboprop); 16,195 hours total
- Operator: Grant Aviation INC
The flight
- Departed from: IGG Egegik AK
- Destination: Bethel AK
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 5 knots
- Sky: overcast at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
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.