Textron Aviation INC 208B accident near Laceyville, Pennsylvania, April 26, 2021
On April 26, 2021 at about 12:45 pm local time, a 2019 Textron Aviation INC 208B, registered N143CA, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Laceyville, Pennsylvania. It was an executive or corporate flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s improper decision to conduct a low altitude flight and his failure to see and avoid powerlines. Contributing was the operator’s lack of safety guidance or a safety policy for low-altitude operations.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 26, 2021 · about 12:45 pm local time
- Place
- Laceyville, Pennsylvania · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Textron Aviation INC 208B, built 2019
- Registration
- N143CA · registry record · serial 208B5516
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The two pilots and the three passengers were enroute to a business meeting in the amphibious airplane when they encountered clouds and turbulence. The pilot, copilot, and passengers described that the pilot descended to a lower altitude and flew along a riverbed, at times at an altitude that was below the surrounding trees and terrain. The pilot stated that he next planned on doing a touch-and-go landing on the river to entertain the passengers. One of the passengers said that while flying along the river, the pilots were concerned about hitting powerlines and had to maneuver to prevent hitting them and a bridge. Shortly after, as the pilots were following a sharp bend in the river while looking for a place to conduct a touch-and-go landing, the airplane’s right wing stuck a power line. The airplane’s right wing and aileron were substantially damaged, though the damage did not prohibit the airplane from being able to fly, and the pilot characterized that the airplane felt out of trim and “a little heavier on one side.” The flight continued towards their destination and a subsequent conversation ensued between the pilot and the passengers, asking if the meeting could be missed, and if they should return to their departure airport, about 45 minutes away. The decision was made to return to the departure airport where the airplane landed without further incident. The pilot elected not to perform a precautionary landing at a nearby airport nor declare an emergency because the airplane appeared to be performing well. The operator stated there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane that contributed to the accident. Further, the operator did not have any guidance or policies relating to low-altitude maneuvering with passengers onboard.
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
- Low altitude operation/event during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wire › Awareness of condition
- Organizational issues › Management › Policy/procedure › Availability of policy/proc › Operator
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,500 hours in all; 51 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: April 2, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,450 hours in all; 600 in this make and model; 80 in the last 90 days; 45 in the last 30 days; 1,370 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 222 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, April 8, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 9,062 lb
- Seats: 12
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W PT6-A-140 (turboprop); 222 hours total
- Operator: Haugland Group Aviation LLC
The flight
- Departed from: CKZ Perkasie PA at 11:30 am
- Destination: IPS Long Island NY
- Flight plan: VFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 15 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds; clear at 3,100 ft
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 3009.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:54 am from AVP, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on September 14, 2021. 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 | Record of Conversation_pilot and Copilot | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Record of Conversation_three Passengers | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Accident Site Overview | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Police Report | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Photo Array - Airplane Damage and Accident Site | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N143CA 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.