Cessna 402C and Cessna 208B accident near Buckland, Alaska, September 8, 1997
On September 8, 1997 at about 11:45 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 402C (N2649Z) and Cessna 208B (N1123R), were involved in the same accident near Buckland, Alaska (Buckland airport). No one was hurt; 17 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the pilot of the Cessna 402C, N2649Z, to maintain adequate clearance while taxiing alongside the stationary Cessna 208B, N1123R.
The failure of the pilot of the Cessna 402C, N2649Z, to maintain adequate clearance while taxiing alongside the stationary Cessna 208B, N1123R.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 8, 1997 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- Buckland, Alaska · Buckland · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 17 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 402C · all 402Cs on the register
- Registration
- N2649Z · registry record · serial 402C0333
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 208B · all 208Bs on the register
- Registration
- N1123R · no longer on the register · serial 208B0395
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 402C final · quoted from the NTSB record
The Cessna 402C, N2649Z, and the Cessna 208B, N1123R, were both parked at the ramp area of a remote airport. Both airplanes had passengers on board, and both airplanes were preparing to depart on charter flights. The Cessna 402C was parked to the right, and slightly behind the Cessna 208B. The pilot of the Cessna 402C began a right turn out of the parking spot. During the turn, the tail of the airplane struck the right aileron of the Cessna 208B.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 208B final · quoted from the NTSB record
The Cessna 402C, N2649Z, and the Cessna 208B, N1123R, were both parked at the ramp area of a remote airport. Both airplanes had passengers on board, and both airplanes were preparing to depart on charter flights. The Cessna 402C was parked to the right, and slightly behind the Cessna 208B. The pilot of the Cessna 402C began a right turn out of the parking spot. During the turn, the tail of the airplane struck the right aileron of the Cessna 208B.
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 for the Cessna 402C from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,900 hours in all; 870 in this make and model; 300 in the last 90 days; 136 in the last 30 days; 4,750 as pilot in command; 345 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,249 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, August 28, 1997; 33 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,190 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Hageland Aviation Services INC
The flight
- Destination: ORV Noorvik AK
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 6 |
The factual record for the Cessna 208B from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,875 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model; 350 in the last 90 days; 135 in the last 30 days; 9,800 as pilot in command; 2,100 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,563 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, August 19, 1997; 69 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 8,750 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W PT6A-114A (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: ORV Noorvik AK
- Runway 0
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 9 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N2649Z the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.