Cessna 208 accident near Uncertain, Texas, October 7, 1989
On October 7, 1989 at about 3:05 am local time, a Cessna 208, registered N208W, was destroyed in an accident near Uncertain, Texas (Vaughan'S airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 5 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND, AND FAILURE OF THE AIRCREW TO MAINTAIN RUNWAY ALIGNMENT AND CLEARANCE FROM THE HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS (TREES) BESIDE THE RUNWAY. RELATED FACTORS WERE: WEATHER CONDITIONS, DARK NIGHT, LACK OF RUNWAY EDGE LIGHTS, LACK OF VISUAL PERCEPTION BY THE PILOT(S), AND TREES BESIDE THE RUNWAY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 7, 1989 · about 3:05 am local time
- Place
- Uncertain, Texas · Vaughan'S · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 5 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 208 · all 208s on the register
- Registration
- N208W · registry record · serial 20800115
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT TOOK OFF AT NGT FROM A PVT/UNLIGHTED STRIP WITH A PROFESSIONAL (ATP) PLT & THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED OWNER/PLT AT THE CONTROLS. AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ACFT ENTERED A SLIGHT LEFT TURN. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT HIT THE TOP OF A TALL PINE TREE, ABOUT 80 FT AGL & 202 FT LEFT OF THE RWY CENTERLINE. THE ACFT THEN CRASHED INTO OTHER TREES AFTER TRAVELING ABOUT AN ADDITIONAL 450 FT. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL PROBLEM WAS FOUND DURING THE INVESTIGATION. THE INVESTIGATION DID NOT DETERMINE WHICH PLT WAS ACTUALLY FLYING THE ACFT. TOXICOLOGY CHECKS SHOWED THE OWNER HAD A BLOOD/ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 0.041% (41 MG/DL) & A URINE/ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 0.012% (12 MG/DL). TOXICOLOGY CHECKS OF THE PROFESSIONAL PLT'S BLOOD & URINE WERE NEGATIVE FOR ALCOHOL.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,200 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 125 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 980 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 11, 1989; 84 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 9,000 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W PT6A-114 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: 81J Destin FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 15, 5,000 ft by 50 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 290° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:51 am from SHV, 28 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.