Cessna CE-208 accident near Hooper Bay, Alaska, January 15, 2016
On January 15, 2016 at about 7:23 pm local time, a 2001 Cessna CE-208, registered N104AN, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Hooper Bay, Alaska (Hooper Bay airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 1 person had minor injuries; 8 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to identify the runway, resulting in the airplane touching down a few feet to the right of the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 15, 2016 · about 7:23 pm local time
- Place
- Hooper Bay, Alaska · Hooper Bay · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 8 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna CE-208 B, built 2001
- Registration
- N104AN · no longer on the register · serial 208B0918
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he aligned the airplane on final approach with what "appeared" to be the runway with a small snow berm on both the left and right sides. The pilot further reported that the left main landing gear touched down first, and then the airplane came to an "abrupt" stop a few feet to the right of the runway. A postaccident examination of the airframe reviled substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Miscellaneous/other during landing defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Identification/recognition › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Task monitoring/vigilance › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Operating environment › Airport facilities/design › Airport lighting › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Operating environment › Airport facilities/design › Runway markings/signage › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,331 hours in all; 1,660 in this make and model; 211 in the last 90 days; 60 in the last 30 days; 3,824 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 9, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Passenger
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: left
- 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: 14,440.1 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, January 15, 2016
- Maximum gross weight: 9,062 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6A SER (turboprop); 120 hours total
- Operator: Grant Aviation INC.
The flight
- Departed from: VAK Chevak AK
- Destination: HPB Hooper Bay AK
- Runway 13, 3,300 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 21°F (-6°C), dew point 14°F (-10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.63 inHg
- Observation at 7:19 pm from PAHP
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 8 |
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.