# Incident 20181123023819I: Cessna 208B, Bakersfield, CA, November 23, 2018

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 23, 2018, 18:16 local time
- Place: Bakersfield, CA
- Airport: Bakersfield
- Damage: No damage
- Phase of flight: Ground/Ramp/Ma
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: AWHA
- Location: 35.4336° N, 119.0544° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.4336&lon=-119.0544&mi=10
- Aircraft: N781FE, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N781FE) (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: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 1,755 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR19IA030](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19IA030) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20181123023819I

## Narrative

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

ON 11/23/18 AIRCRAFT RECEIVED CLEARANCE AND TAXIED TO RUN UP AREA.  PILOT FAILED TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE TOWER FOR 30 MINUTES WHILE IN THE RUNUP AREA WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING.  TOWER DISPATCHED AIRPORT VEHICLES AND ARF TO AIRCRAFT.  FIRE DEPT. FOUND PILOT INSIDE AIRCRAFT UNRESPONSIVE.  PILOT THAN BEGAN TO GAIN CONSCIOUSNESS, FIRE CREW SHUT DOWN AIRCRAFT, AND HELP PILOT OUT OF AIRCRAFT.  INITIAL REPORTS SEEM TO INDICATE THE PILOT MAY HAVE BEEN UNCONSCIOUS FOR UP TO 30 MIN IN THE AIRCRAFT.

IN REVIEW OF THE LOAD MANIFEST, 36.9 KG OF DRY ICE (TOTAL) WAS DECLARED LOADED ONBOARD THE AIRCRAFT.  A TOTAL OF 2230 LBS OF CARGO WAS LOADED ONTO THE AIRCRAFT AT 1722 LOCAL TIME.

AIRCRAFT WAS UNLOADED AND CARGO RE WEIGHED AT 1000 LOCAL TIME THE NEXT MORNING AND DISCOVERED A DIFFERENCE OF 170LBS OF WEIGHT "MISSING" FROM THE CARGO.

ASI OPENED 3 SAMPLE BOXES AND NOTED NO CONSISTENCY IN DRY ICE AMOUNTS REMAINING.  2 BOXES HAD NO ICE REMAINING (LABELED WITH .9 KG) BUT ONE BOX HAD 2.8 LBS REMAINING (LABELED .9KG)

## 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 WPR19IA030](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19IA030), Nov 24, 2018: Cessna 208 (N781FE), Bakersfield, CA, incident, no damage. Probable cause: The pilot's loss of consciousness while taxiing due to an accumulation of toxic levels of carbon dioxide gas inside the airplane as a result of dry ice sublimation. Also causal was the pilot's…

## Other reports on N781FE (2)

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

- [Incident 20250422004939I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250422004939I), Apr 22, 2025: Cessna 208B (N781FE), La Verne, CA, No damage. While enroute from bfl to ont, the pilot reported that the master caution amber chip detector warning light illuminated, with no other abnormal engine…
- [Accident 19930828031599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930828031599A), Aug 28, 1993: Cessna 208B (N781FE), Los Angeles, CA, Substantial damage. Pilot was taxiing to ramp when the aircraft was struck by a truck. Truck driver stated he never saw aircraft.

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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