Cessna 208 accident near Port Alsworth, Alaska, December 2, 2021
On December 2, 2021 at about 3:25 am local time, a 1985 Cessna 208, registered N9602F, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Port Alsworth, Alaska (Port Alsworth airport). It was a business flight under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
Preview. This page is not yet listed for search engines.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain a proper approach path which resulted in landing short of the runway and impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 2, 2021 · about 3:25 am local time
- Place
- Port Alsworth, Alaska · Port Alsworth · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 208, built 1985 · all 208s on the register
- Registration
- N9602F · registry record · serial 20800103
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, during a second landing attempt at a private airport, in night conditions, the airplane descended below the glide path and landed short of the runway in an area of heavily forested terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation, and the accident may have been prevented if the runway was equipped with a visual glide slope indicator.
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
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 47,000 hours in all; 9,000 in this make and model; 90 in the last 90 days; 32.9 in the last 30 days; 46,500 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 25, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 25,724 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 8,000 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W Canada PT6A-6 SERIES (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Lake And Peninsula Airlines INC
The flight
- Departed from: PANO Nondalton AK at 3:10 am
- Runway 06R, 3,849 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 360° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point -11°F (-24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.28 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from PAIL, 32 miles away
Weather report (METAR): PAIL 022153Z 36009KT 10SM CLR M18/M24 A3028 RMK AO2 SLP260 T11781244
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ANC22LA009.