# Accident 20130115000469A: Cessna 208B, Pellston, MI, January 15, 2013

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 15, 2013, 19:45 local time
- Place: Pellston, MI
- Airport: Pellston
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: MT9A
- Location: 45.5633° N, 84.8261° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.5633&lon=-84.8261&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1120N, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1120N-2018-02-08) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 208B (registry code 2073701, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-208b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6A series (registry code 52032, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 208B
- Reported engine: P&W PT6A SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 2,000 total, 34 in this make and model, 34 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN13FA135](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13FA135) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130115000469A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ON JANUARY 15, 2013 A CESSNA CARAVAN 208B, N1120N, WAS DESTROYED AFTER TAKEOFF FROM PELLSTON, MI AIRPORT (PLN).  THE AIRPLANE WAS OPERATED BY MARTINAIRE, UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 135 ON DEMAND CARGO WITH A VFR FLIGHT PLAN ON FILE TO LANSING, MI (LAN).  NIGHT VFR CONDITIONS PREVAILED FOR THE CARGO FLIGHT WITH 1 CREWMEMBER ONBOARD. REPORTED WEATHER: KPLN 160154Z AUTO 21012G17KT 10SM OVC050 M03/M08 A3010 RMK AO2 SLP207 T10331083

KPLN 152354Z AUTO 21010G16KT 10SM BKN036 BKN048 OVC055 M03/M09 A3014 RMK AO2 SNE2257 SLP223 P0000 60000 T10331094 11033 21044 56020

THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED AT APPROXIMATELY 1945 EST DURING TAKEOFF FROM PELLSTON AIRPORT.  THE SOLE OCCUPANT RECEIVED A FATAL INJURY.

FACTUAL NOTES ON ENGINE TEARDOWN INVESTIGATION RECEIVED BY PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA:  EXTERNAL CONDITION: THE PROPELLER HAD SEPARATED FROM THE ENGINE AND ONE BLADE HAD FRACTURED AT APPROX. MID SPAN.  A PIECE OF THE BLADE (APPROX.. 6? OF THE TIP) WAS FOUND SOME 200? TO THE RIGHT OF THE MAIN WRECKAGE AS VIEWED FROM AFT LOOKING FORWARD.  THE BLADE TIP SHOWED SIGNIFICANT IMPACT DAMAGE WITH PIECES OF WOOD ADHERED TO THE IMPACT REGION.  THE REMAINING PIECE OF PROPELLER BLADE WAS NOT RECOVERED.  THE PORTION OF BLADE STILL ATTACHED TO THE HUB COULD NOT BE MOVED AND WAS IN A POSITION CONSISTENT WITH BEING OUT OF FEATHER.  A SECOND BLADE WAS FOUND BENT APPROX.. 90° TOWARDS ITS CAMBER SIDE.  A SLIGHT BEND IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION WAS ALSO NOTED NEAR THE BLADE SHANK.  THE LEADING EDGE SHOWED SIGNIFICANT IMPACT DAMAGE AND THE BLADE BUTT AND/OR BLADE RETAINING FEATURE WITHIN THE HUB WAS BROKEN, ALLOWING THE BLADE TO BE MOVED.  THE THIRD BLADE WAS RELATIVELY INTACT AND SHOWED A MODERATE BEND TOWARDS ITS CAMBER SIDE.

THE AIRCRAFT MADE INITIAL CONTACT WITH TREES LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 1.2 MILES SOUTHWEST FROM DEPARTURE END OF RUNWAY 23.  INITIAL TREE IMPACT WAS OBSERVED AT 45.564N, 84.827W, A SWATH THROUGH THE TREES MEASURING APPROXIMATELY 41?WIDE BEGAN AT APPROXIMATELY 228? FROM INITIAL TREE IMPACT CONTINUING APPROXIMATELY 192? ON A TRUE HEADING OF 280°, AT WHICH THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A TREE APPROXIMATELY 12? IN DIAMETER, THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST ON ITS RIGHT HAND SIDE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CEN13FA135](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13FA135), Jan 16, 2013: Cessna 208B (N1120N), Pellston, MI, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's inadvertent controlled descent into terrain due to spatial disorientation. Contributing to the accident was lack of visual reference due to night conditions.

## Other reports on N1120N (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20001208031019I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20001208031019I), Dec 8, 2000: Cessna 208B (N1120N), Pellston, MI, Minor damage. (-23) Scheduled cargo flight iaw 14 CFR 135. While being vectored for ILS32, pilot cancelled IFR approx 8 NM from airport, landed on 6500 ft runway with poor…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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