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).
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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 October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 7, 2020 · about 8:15 am local time
- Place
- Baltimore, Maryland · Baltimore/Washington Intl Thur · 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
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 ERA20CA095.