Cessna 208B accident near El Paso, Texas, April 27, 2011
On April 27, 2011 at about 1:00 am local time, a Cessna 208B, registered N208TF, was substantially damaged in an accident during standing (engine(s) operating) near El Paso, Texas (El Paso International 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 instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's loss of control as result of the gusting wind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 12, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 27, 2011 · about 1:00 am local time · cases in 2011
- Place
- El Paso, Texas · El Paso International Airport · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 208B · all 208Bs on the register
- Registration
- N208TF · registry record · serial 208B0592
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
As the pilot prepared for the evening cargo flight, the wind was reported as being strong and gusting. The pilot reported that he radioed the air traffic controller for his flight clearance and the current wind conditions. Since the wind was higher than previously reported, the pilot told the controller that he would wait before taxiing further. The pilot added that, after deciding to delay the flight and before he could shut down the airplane, a large gust of wind pushed the airplane’s nose left and lifted the left wing. The airplane’s propeller and right wing impacted the ground, bending the airplane’s right wing. At about the time of the accident the automated weather reporting station, located on the airport, reported the wind at 270 degrees at 36 knots gusting to 48 knots.
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
- Other weather encounter during standing (engine(s) operating)
- Ground collision during standing (engine(s) operating) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › High wind › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,979 hours in all; 211 in this make and model; 58 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 1,945 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 3, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,424 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, March 4, 2011
- Seats: 12
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W PT6A SER (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Martinaire Aviation, LLC
The flight
- Departed from: ELP El Paso TX
- Destination: LBB Lubbock TX
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: not reported
- Wind: from 270° at 36 knots, gusting 48
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 7°F (-14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.62 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on May 23, 2011. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Weather Reports and Records | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photo: Accident Aircraft on Airport Ramp (FAA Supplied Photo) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N208TF the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N208TF on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Cessna 208 Caravan 1,017 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,684 aircraft on the register
- Engine: P&W PT6A SER 2,217 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- EL Paso International · nearest airport
- Lubbock Preston Smith International · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Texas 6,235 since 1982 · 1,062 in the last ten years
- Texas 29,911 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N208TF 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN11CA309.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.