Cessna 208 accident near Elfin Cove, Alaska, June 26, 2022
On June 26, 2022 at about 7:45 pm local time, a Cessna 208, registered N265KP, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Elfin Cove, Alaska (Elfin Cove airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 8 people were 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 directional control during takeoff which resulted in an impact with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s momentary distraction from conflicting boat traffic.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 26, 2022 · about 7:45 pm local time · cases in 2022
- Place
- Elfin Cove, Alaska · Elfin Cove · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 8 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 208 · all 208s on the register
- Registration
- N265KP · registry record · serial 20800375
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the float and wheel-equipped airplane reported that while the airplane was accelerating on the water for takeoff it veered to the right. While attempting to correct for the veer, he noticed a skiff in his departure path, which caused a momentary distraction. Unable to correct for the veer he aborted the takeoff but was unable to avoid an impact with the rocky shoreline, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing and aileron. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies 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
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,146 hours in all; 221 in this make and model; 151 in the last 90 days; 70 in the last 30 days; 3,032 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 15, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,130 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, June 3, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 8,360 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Honeywell Aerospace, Inc. TPE331-12JR (turboprop); 5,792 hours total
- Operator: Kalinin Partners LLC
The flight
- Destination: Juneau AK
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.28 inHg
- Observation at 11:56 am from PAGS, 26 miles away
Weather report (METAR): PAGS 261956Z AUTO 21008KT 10SM CLR 18/12 A3028 RMK AO2 SLP253 T01780122
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 7 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photo 1 – Accident airplane at accident site. Photo
Photo 2 – The accident airplane’s substantially damage right wing and aileron. PhotoThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on November 7, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Photos | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N265KP on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Cessna 208 Caravan 1,018 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,677 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Honeywell Aerospace, Inc. TPE331-12JR 15 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Elfin Cove Seaplane Base · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Alaska 5,932 since 1982 · 825 in the last ten years
- Alaska 9,142 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ANC22LA048.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.