Cessna 208B and Cessna 172N accident near North Platte, Nebraska, August 12, 2000
On August 12, 2000 at about 4:00 am local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 208B (N1116Y) and Cessna 172N (N734WD), were involved in the same accident near North Platte, Nebraska (North Platte Regional airport). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot not maintaining clearance form the other airplane while taxiing. A factor was the dark night.
the pilot of the other airplane not maintaining clearance while taxiing. A factor was the dark night.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 12, 2000 · about 4:00 am local time
- Place
- North Platte, Nebraska · North Platte Regional
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 208B · all 208Bs on the register
- Registration
- N1116Y · no longer on the register · serial 208B-0368
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N734WD · no longer on the register · serial 17269165
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 208B final · quoted from the NTSB record
A Cessna 208B sustained minor damage during taxiing when it impacted a standing Cessna 172N with two occupants. The 172N sustained substantial damage. The Cessna 172N while on a taxiway, "performed our run-up and opened our flight plan." The Cessna 208B's pilot said, "Then all of a sudden I saw the rudder of the airplane. There were no lights on the tail of 172 that I could see. I applied the brakes and slid the wheels but the propeller cut into the tail of the 172." A witness stated, "[The Cessna 172N] taxied out to taxi way 'B'. As he was leaving I saw that he did have his beacon on the tail flashing, this was about 10:40. ... As I walked outside, [the Cessna 208B] was on taxiway 'B' traveling at a moderate to slightly high speed. Nothing outrageous but he was moving along. Then I saw the impact. ... It wasn't until I drove out there that I saw the 172 with the tail tore off that I realized what had happened."
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 172N final · quoted from the NTSB record
A Cessna 208B sustained minor damage during taxiing when it impacted a standing Cessna 172N with two occupants. The 172N sustained substantial damage. The Cessna 172N while on a taxiway, "performed our run-up and opened our flight plan." The Cessna 208B's pilot said, "Then all of a sudden I saw the rudder of the airplane. There were no lights on the tail of 172 that I could see. I applied the brakes and slid the wheels but the propeller cut into the tail of the 172." A witness stated, "[The Cessna 172N] taxied out to taxi way 'B'. As he was leaving I saw that he did have his beacon on the tail flashing, this was about 10:40. ... As I walked outside, [the Cessna 208B] was on taxiway 'B' traveling at a moderate to slightly high speed. Nothing outrageous but he was moving along. Then I saw the impact. ... It wasn't until I drove out there that I saw the 172 with the tail tore off that I realized what had happened."
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,232 hours in all; 226 in this make and model; 3,100 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,840 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, July 18, 2000; 64 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 8,950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W PT6A-114A (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LBF
- Destination: GRI Grand Island NE
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 160° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 187°F (86°C), dew point 126°F (52°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:56 am from LBF
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 172N from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 341 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 85 in the last 90 days; 78 in the last 30 days; 280 as pilot in command; 71 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,707 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 2, 2000; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Mcair Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: LBF
- Destination: 48V Erie CO
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N1116Y the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.