Cessna 208 accident near Elfin Cove, Alaska, May 24, 2017
On May 24, 2017 at about 11:30 am local time, a 2004 Cessna 208, registered N1265U, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Elfin Cove, Alaska (Elfin Cove airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 8 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to recognize the magnitude of the swell size during landing, which resulted in a tail-low hard water landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 24, 2017 · about 11:30 am local time
- Place
- Elfin Cove, Alaska · Elfin Cove · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 8 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 208 A, built 2004 · all 208s on the register
- Registration
- N1265U · no longer on the register · serial 20800375
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the float-equipped airplane reported that, during a water landing, he "misread the size of the swell." He added that, immediately after touchdown. the airplane jumped a swell, which resulted in a tail-low hard landing. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane 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
- Hard landing during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Identification/recognition › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › Choppy surface › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,142 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 87 in the last 30 days; 5,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 12, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,338.2 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, May 9, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 8,360 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Honeywell TPE 331-12-JR (turboprop); 1,914 hours total
- Operator: Kalinin Partners LLC.
The flight
- Departed from: PAJN Juneau AK
- Destination: ELV Elfin Cove AK
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,200 ft
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.26 inHg
- Observation at 4:52 pm from PAEL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 7 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on December 5, 2017. 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Accident Photo (Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.