Cessna 208B accident near Alpine, Texas, July 3, 2017
On July 3, 2017 at about 11:15 pm local time, a 1989 Cessna 208B, registered N9714B, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Alpine, Texas (Alpine-Casparis Muni airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Fracture of a compressor turbine (CT) blade due to operational overtemperatures and the failure of a maintenance technician to detect an existing crack in the CT blade during the last engine inspection.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 3, 2017 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Alpine, Texas · Alpine-Casparis Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 208B, built 1989 · all 208Bs on the register
- Registration
- N9714B · no longer on the register · serial 208B0153
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While on climbout on a cargo flight, the pilot heard a loud bang, followed by a squealing noise; the engine immediately lost power. The pilot accomplished a forced landing to a field, during which both wings were damaged after contacting power poles. Examination of the engine revealed the compressor turbine (CT) blades had fractured. Material analysis of the CT blades confirmed operational overtemperature conditions had occurred during previous flights, and significant creep in the microstructure of the blades indicated an imminent cracking probability in all the CT blades. During the last borescope inspection about 3 months before the accident, a crack in a CT blade that could be seen in a video recording of the inspection was not observed by the technician who conducted the inspection. It is likely that this CT blade failed due to creep and the undetected crack. The engine's compressor turbine vane ring had features different from an original equipment manufacturer part, including cooling air ducts that were a different size; however, the investigation was not able to determine if cooling air performance was compromised. The CT vane axial positioning, which was staggered, likely increased vibrational loads on the CT blades; however, the investigation was not able to determine if this contributed to the CT blade longevity and crack initiation.
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 engine power (total) during initial climb defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
- Hard landing during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (turbine/turboprop) › Turbine section › Capability exceeded
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (turbine/turboprop) › Turbine section › Failure
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Inspection › Scheduled/routine inspection › Maintenance personnel
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Pole › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,290 hours in all; 1,040 in this make and model; 128 in the last 90 days; 57 in the last 30 days; 4,965 as pilot in command; 3,935 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 18, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 94 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, April 12, 2017; 94 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,449 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W PT6A-114A (turboprop); 12,426 hours total
- Operator: Martinaire Aviation LLC
The flight
- Departed from: E38 Alpine TX at 11:12 pm
- Destination: 5T9 Eagle Pass TX
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 9,500 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.26 inHg
- Observation at 10:35 pm from KE38, 1 miles away
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 February 28, 2020. 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, 8 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Powerplants Group Chairman's Factual Report | PDF, 24 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | 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.
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.