Cessna 208 accident near Rhinelander, Wisconsin, March 5, 2020
On March 5, 2020 at about 2:15 pm local time, a 1995 Cessna 208, registered N706FX, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Rhinelander, Wisconsin (Rhinelander-Oneida County airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper decision to continue an instrument approach to landing following a loss of visual reference with the runway, which resulted in the airplane touching down left of the runway in snow and flipping over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 5, 2020 · about 2:15 pm local time
- Place
- Rhinelander, Wisconsin · Rhinelander-Oneida County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 208 B, built 1995 · all 208s on the register
- Registration
- N706FX · no longer on the register · serial 208B0426
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, upon reaching the decision altitude on a GPS instrument approach, he saw the runway end identifier lights and continued the approach. Shortly after, the lights disappeared and then reappeared. He continued the approach and landing thinking the airplane was lined up with the runway by using the runway edge lights for reference. Upon touching down about 225 ft left of the runway, the airplane dug into snow and flipped over, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings and tail. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane 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 visual reference during landing
- Wrong surface or wrong airport during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Nose over/nose down during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Perception/orientation/illusion › Perception › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,245 hours in all; 3,684 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 6,109 as pilot in command; 187 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 30, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11,458 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 21, 2020; 64 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 8,752 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6A SER (turboprop); 11,417 hours total
- Operator: Csa Air, Inc
The flight
- Departed from: MKE Milwaukee WI
- Destination: RHI Rhinelander WI
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 27, 6,799 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 0.8 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 400 ft
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.69 inHg
- Observation at 1:32 pm from KRHI
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check 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.