Cessna 208B accident near Fairbanks, Alaska, April 3, 2021
On April 3, 2021 at about 9:15 pm local time, a 1999 Cessna 208B, registered N215MC, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff (rejected takeoff) near Fairbanks, Alaska (Fairbanks Intl airport). It was a business flight under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on available evidence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 3, 2021 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Fairbanks, Alaska · Fairbanks Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 208B, built 1999 · all 208Bs on the register
- Registration
- N215MC · registry record · serial 208B0730
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during the takeoff climb, he retracted the flaps, and the engine began to run rough. The pilot elected to abort the landing on the remaining runway. The airplane descended rapidly with the decreased airspeed and subsequently landed hard, sustaining substantial damage. The passengers reported that the airplane bounced three to four times when it landed. Ground witnesses reported heavy snowfall at the time the airplane took off. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed no evidence of any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined based on the available evidence.
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
- Loss of engine power (partial) during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Loss of engine power (partial) during unknown defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Power plant › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine sea; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,727.5 hours in all; 649.8 in this make and model; 251.3 in the last 90 days; 86 in the last 30 days; 688 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 1, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: unk
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: unk
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: unk
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: unk
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 17,927.2 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, February 5, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 9,062 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W Canada PT6A-114A (turboprop); 5,115 hours total
- Operator: Tatonduk Outfitters LTD DBA
The flight
- Destination: AGA Galena AK
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 02L, 11,800 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,700 ft
- Temperature: 21°F (-6°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.82 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from PAFA, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR PAFA 032053Z 02004KT 1SM R02L/4500VP6000FT -SN BR BKN017 OVC028 M06/M09 A2982 RMK AO2 TWR VIS 2 SLP108 P0002 60006 T10611089 50003=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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 docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site 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 WPR21LA164.