Cessna 208B accident near Grand Forks, North Dakota, November 11, 2015
On November 11, 2015 at about 3:50 pm local time, a 2004 Cessna 208B, registered N617ST, was substantially damaged in an accident during standing (engine(s) not oper) near Grand Forks, North Dakota (Grand Forks International airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 10 people were 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 failure to properly calculate the airplane's weight and balance and center of gravity, which resulted in the tail striking the ground.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 11, 2015 · about 3:50 pm local time
- Place
- Grand Forks, North Dakota · Grand Forks International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 10 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 208B, built 2004 · all 208Bs on the register
- Registration
- N617ST · registry record · serial 208B1044
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The commercial pilot was conducting a cross-country business flight. He landed the airplane and then taxied to the ramp. The pilot instructed the passengers to remain seated and then deplaned to attach the tailstand, at which point the airplane tipped back and struck the pavement with its tail. The pilot reboarded and instructed the passengers to leave their seats and move forward, and the airplane righted itself. The forward bulkhead for the horizontal stabilizer attachment point was crushed and torn, and three stringers, another bulkhead, and the lower skin were damaged in the accident. The center of gravity (CG) was calculated postaccident based on the available weight and balance data, and it was aft of the CG limit. It is likely that the pilot did not properly calculate the airplane's weight and balance and CG, which resulted in the airplane tipping backward as the pilot attempted to attach the tailstand.
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
- Aircraft loading event during standing (engine(s) not oper) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Weight/balance calculations › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › CG/weight distribution › Capability exceeded
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,814 hours in all; 4 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 8,750 lb
- Seats: 11
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-114A (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-114A (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Sartec CORP
The flight
- Departed from: KANE Anoka MN at 1:30 pm
- Destination: KGFK Grand Forks ND
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 300 ft
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.84 inHg
- Observation at 3:03 pm from KGFK
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
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.