Cessna 208B and Douglas DC-3A accident near Memphis, Tennessee, December 15, 1994
On December 15, 1994 at about 10:28 am local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 208B (N927FE) and Douglas DC-3A (N24320), were involved in the same accident near Memphis, Tennessee (Memphis International airport). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE INABILITY OF THE PILOT OF CESSNA 208, N927FE TO SEE DOUGLAS DC3, N24320, AS HE TAXIED TO TAKEOFF DUE TO INOPERATIVE TAIL NAVIGATION LIGHTS AND BEACON LIGHTS ON THE DC3 AND DUE TO GLARE ON THE WET TAXIWAY.
THE INABILITY OF THE PILOT OF CESSNA 208, N927FE TO SEE DOUGLAS DC3, N24320, AS HE TAXIED TO TAKEOFF DUE TO INOPERATIVE TAIL NAVIGATION LIGHTS AND BEACON LIGHTS ON THE DC3 AND DUE TO GLARE ON THE WET TAXIWAY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 15, 1994 · about 10:28 am local time
- Place
- Memphis, Tennessee · Memphis International · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 208B · all 208Bs on the register
- Registration
- N927FE · registry record · serial 208B0027
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
- Aircraft 2
- Douglas DC-3A · all DC-3As on the register
- Registration
- N24320 · registry record · serial 20197
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 208B final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF CESSNA 208, N927FE, STATED THAT AS HE TAXIED TO RUNWAY 18L HE DID NOT SEE ANY AIRCRAFT EXCEPT AN AIRCRAFT WHICH WAS AT THE HOLD SHORT LINE. HE THEN NOTICED THE SILHOUETTE OF DOUGLAS DC3, N24320, AHEAD OF HIM BUT WAS UNABLE TO STOP PRIOR TO COLLIDING WITH THE AIRCRAFT. HE STATED THE TAIL NAVIGATION LIGHTS AND BEACON LIGHTS ON THE DC3 WERE NOT OPERATING. HE ALSO STATED THE TAXIWAY WAS WET AND THERE WAS A GLARE FROM LIGHTS ON A NEARBY RAMP. POSTCRASH EXAMINATION OF DC3 BY FAA INSPECTORS INDICATED THE TAIL NAVIGATION AND BEACON LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Douglas DC-3A final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF CESSNA 208, N927FE, STATED THAT AS HE TAXIED TO RUNWAY 18L HE DID NOT SEE ANY AIRCRAFT EXCEPT AN AIRCRAFT WHICH WAS AT THE HOLD SHORT LINE. HE THEN NOTICED THE SILHOUETTE OF DOUGLAS DC3, N24320, AHEAD OF HIM BUT WAS UNABLE TO STOP PRIOR TO COLLIDING WITH THE AIRCRAFT. HE STATED THE TAIL NAVIGATION LIGHTS AND BEACON LIGHTS ON THE DC3 WERE NOT OPERATING. HE ALSO STATED THE TAXIWAY WAS WET AND THERE WAS A GLARE FROM LIGHTS ON A NEARBY RAMP. POSTCRASH EXAMINATION OF DC3 BY FAA INSPECTORS INDICATED THE TAIL NAVIGATION AND BEACON LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE.
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 for the Cessna 208B from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,900 hours in all; 3,600 in this make and model; 4,600 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,279 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, November 3, 1994; 79 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 8,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W PT6-114 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Baron Aviation Services
The flight
- Departed from: MEM at 10:28 am
- Destination: 81J Destin FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 18L
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 140° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,100 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:43 am from MEM, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Douglas DC-3A from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,060 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 4,500 as pilot in command; 800 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 22,550 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, November 12, 1994; 86 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 26,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W R1830-92 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MEM at 10:28 am
- Destination: BNA Nashville TN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 18L
- A second pilot was aboard
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.
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 documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text 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 MIA95LA040.