Cessna 425 accident near Bismarck, North Dakota, February 6, 2023
On February 6, 2023 at about 9:45 pm local time, a 1983 Cessna 425, registered N425Z, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi near Bismarck, North Dakota (Bismarck Municipal Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
Preview. This page is not yet listed for search engines.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of braking due to inadequate servicing of brake fluid by the pilot/mechanic, which resulted in a loss of airplane control on the ground.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 6, 2023 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Bismarck, North Dakota · Bismarck Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 425, built 1983 · all 425s on the register
- Registration
- N425Z · no longer on the register · serial 425-0186
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot taxied to the ramp after an uneventful flight. After moving the throttles toward the ground idle position while in front of the marshaller, the airplane turned left, and the pilot observed that the right brake was inoperative. He attempted to stop the airplane by placing both propeller levers to the feather position and subsequently moved both throttles toward the reverse (beta) position. The airplane continued forward and struck a hangar, which resulted in substantial damaged to the left wing. Postaccident examination of the braking system revealed the brake master cylinders were nearly empty of brake fluid, with no leaks observed. The pilot, who was also a mechanic, recorded completion of a phase inspection about nine months before the accident. The inspection included servicing the brake master cylinders, but the pilot reported he did not check the fluid levels of the master cylinders.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during taxi
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during taxi
- Loss of control on ground during taxi defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action selection › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Scheduled/routine maintenance › Maintenance personnel
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Landing gear brakes system › Incorrect service/maintenance
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Residence/building › Effect on equipment
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › (general) › Fluid level
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,740 hours in all; 272 in this make and model; 56 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 6,357 as pilot in command; 3,666 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 10, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,728 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, May 25, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 8,600 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Pratt & Whitney PT6-112 (turboprop); 2,728 hours total
- Engine 2: Pratt & Whitney PT6-112 (turboprop); 2,728 hours total
- Operator: Pegasus Royalty Group LLC
The flight
- Departed from: CHD Chandler AZ at 5:51 pm
- Destination: BIS Bismark ND
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 31, 8,794 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 18 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.67 inHg
- Observation at 3:52 pm from KBIS, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KBIS 062152Z AUTO 31018G30KT 10SM OVC080 03/M02 A2967 RMK AO2 PK WND 31034/2114
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN23LA103.