Cessna 208B accident near Ada, Michigan, May 10, 2008
On May 10, 2008, a Cessna 208B, registered N893FE, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach near Ada, Michigan. It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 10, 2008
- Place
- Ada, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 208B · all 208Bs on the register
- Registration
- N893FE · no longer on the register · serial 208B0223
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was on a visual approach to an airport when the engine stopped producing power. The pilot subsequently landed the airplane in a field, but struck trees at the edge of the field during the forced landing. Examination of the engine, engine fuel controls, and Power Analyzer and Recorder (PAR), provided evidence that the engine shut down during the flight. Further examination of engine and fuel system components from the accident airplane failed to reveal a definitive reason for the uncommanded engine shut-down.
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 approach defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Power plant › (general) › Failure
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,600 hours in all; 3,450 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 5,120 as pilot in command; 1,020 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 20, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,625 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, March 18, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 8,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6-114A (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Csa Air INC
The flight
- Departed from: TVC Traverse City MI
- Destination: GRR Grand Rapids MI
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 320° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 12,000 ft; a few clouds at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.82 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
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.
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.