Cessna 208B and Cessna 208B accident near Grapevine, Texas, March 18, 2022
On March 18, 2022 at about 2:00 am local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 208B (N78SA) and Cessna 208B (N9469B), were involved in the same accident near Grapevine, Texas (Dallas Ft. Worth airport). No one was hurt; 2 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 second aircraft to maintain a safe distance from the lead airplane while taxiing, which resulted in a ground collision.
The failure of the pilot of the second aircraft to maintain a safe distance from the lead airplane while taxiing, which resulted in a ground collision.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 18, 2022 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Grapevine, Texas · Dallas Ft. Worth · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 208B, built 1995 · all 208Bs on the register
- Registration
- N78SA · registry record · serial 208B0467
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 208B, built 1988 · all 208Bs on the register
- Registration
- N9469B · registry record · serial 208B0079
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 208B final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that while taxiing to the ramp for parking behind another airplane, the airplane in front of him suddenly stopped and he impacted that airplane from the rear. He said that all he heard was the propeller of his airplane hitting the tail of the airplane in front of him. He immediately shut down the engine of his airplane and the airplane that had been struck taxied to the ramp and parked. The airplane that was impacted sustained substantial damage to the tail and the other airplane sustained minor damage. There were no reported preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures to either 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 NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 208B final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that while taxiing to the ramp for parking behind another airplane, the airplane in front of him suddenly stopped and he impacted that airplane from the rear. He said that all he heard was the propeller of his airplane hitting the tail of the airplane in front of him. He immediately shut down the engine of his airplane and the airplane that had been struck taxied to the ramp and parked. The airplane that was impacted sustained substantial damage to the tail and the other airplane sustained minor damage. There were no reported preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures to either 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 for the Cessna 208B from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,271 hours in all; 63 in this make and model; 63 in the last 90 days; 48 in the last 30 days; 1,096 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 11, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 14,727 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, November 2, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 8,750 lb
- Seats: 12
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W PT6A SER (turboprop); 4,719 hours total
- Operator: Martinaire Aviation LLC
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 360° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from KDFW, 2 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KDFW 190153Z 36005KT 10SM FEW250 14/M03 A3007 RMK AO2 SLP179 T01441033
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 208B from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot of other aircraft
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 18,902 hours in all; 3,902 in this make and model; 137 in the last 90 days; 48 in the last 30 days; 13,902 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 28, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 17,576 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, January 18, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 8,750 lb
- Seats: 12
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W PT6A SERIES (piston); 17,151 hours total
- Operator: Martinaire Aviation LLC
The flight
- Flight plan: none
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 25, 2022. 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, 22 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot's Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Photos | PDF, 2 pages | 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.