Cessna 208 accident near Baltimore, Maryland, February 7, 2020
On February 7, 2020 at about 8:15 am local time, a 2012 Cessna 208, registered N988FX, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (IFR final approach) near Baltimore, Maryland (Baltimore/Washington Intl Thur airport). 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 instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the approach lights during an instrument approach.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 7, 2020 · about 8:15 am local time · cases in 2020
- Place
- Baltimore, Maryland · Baltimore/Washington Intl Thur · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 208 B, built 2012 · all 208s on the register
- Registration
- N988FX · registry record · serial 208B2400
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was conducting an instrument landing system approach in night instrument meteorological conditions. The pilot was using the autopilot for the approach to the destination airport and disengaged it when he had the runway and airport lighting system in view. The pilot reported that, as he approached the runway, he heard a sound and thought the airplane had hit a bird. He felt the airplane pitch up, so he increased engine power and pitched down to reach the runway. After the pilot landed and taxied to the ramp, he saw that a large piece of an approach light was caught on the right main landing gear. Further examination revealed that the empennage, right horizontal stabilizer, right wing strut, and front cargo pod had sustained substantial damage. The operator reported that the airplane had struck four approach light towers and a localizer antenna.
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 during takeoff/land during approach (IFR final approach) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Runway/taxi/approach light › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,011 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 62 in the last 90 days; 31 in the last 30 days; 1,352 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 23, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,497.4 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, November 26, 2019; 97 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 8,752 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-114A (turboprop); 3,594 hours total
- Operator: Mountain Air Cargo INC
The flight
- Departed from: EWR Newark NJ at 8:03 am
- Destination: BWI Baltimore MD
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 10, 10,503 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Visibility: 1.8 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.18 inHg
- Observation at 8:30 am from BWI
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 4 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photo 1 – View of left side of horizontal stabilizer root
Photo 2 – View of right horizontal stabilizer damage
Photo 3 – View of right main landing gear with lighting system parts attached
Photo 4 – View of approach lighting towers showing damaged area in red circlesThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on April 7, 2020. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memprandum of Record - Pilot Interview | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Weather Reports and Records | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photos | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N988FX on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Cessna 208 Caravan 1,017 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,677 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-114A 250 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall · nearest airport
- Newark Liberty International · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Maryland 837 since 1982 · 111 in the last ten years
- Maryland 2,355 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ERA20CA095.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.