# NTSB ANC25LA110: Cessna 208B, N976E, Healy, AK, September 23, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 22, 2025, 16:40 local (Sep 23, 2025, 00:40 UTC) - Place: Healy, AK · Decker Airstrip - Coordinates: 64.006104, -148.23198 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.0061&lon=-148.2320&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 22, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 201705 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC25LA110 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/201705/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201705 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA110 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the departure roll resulting in a collision with a tractor/loader. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 208B, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2073701), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 208B, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2073701), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 208B, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=2073701), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis During the departure roll from a remote, rough, and uneven gravel-and-dirt airstrip, the airplane encountered a bounce. As a result, the pilot’s foot inadvertently slipped off the rudder pedal, leading to a loss of directional control. The airplane veered to the left, toward a tractor/loader parked adjacent to the airstrip. The pilot elected to abort the takeoff; however, during the deviation, the airplane passed the tractor/loader on its left side. Although the pilot was able to bring the airplane to a stop, she was unaware that the left wing had struck the tractor/loader. Subsequently, the pilot taxied the airplane back to the departure end of the airstrip and conducted another takeoff, which was uneventful. The flight continued to the intended destination without further incident. Following arrival, a postflight inspection revealed substantial damage to the left wing spar cap assembly consistent with impact with the tractor/loader. The operator reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N976E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N976E), registered now, S/N 208B0976, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 208B - Registry model: [Cessna 208B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-208b) (registry code 2073701) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52032, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 208B0976 - Year built: 2002 - Airframe hours: 23804.6 - Engines: Pratt and Whitney PT6A-140 867 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 135 - Operator: Wright Air Service Inc - Registered owner: Wright Air Service Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, September 1, 2025, 40 hours before - Destination: PAFA, Fairbanks, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: PVT, Decker Airstrip, runway 1, 2,250 × 75 ft, dirt - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Electronic multifunction display, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Satellite tracking device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 27, 2025; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 13,600 total, 5,000 in this make and model, 13,300 as pilot in command, 351 in the last 90 days, 134 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,000 ft overcast - METAR: METAR PAFA 230053Z 26008KT 10SM -DZ SCT022 BKN028 OVC034 06/03 A294 ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20250922015449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250922015449A), Sep 22, 2025: Cessna 208B, Healy, AK, Substantial damage. The accident aircraft was departing from a mining strip with three passengers bound for fairbanks international airport. The pilot applied full power and began… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 22, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201705. 6.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 6.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19400205&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC25LA110%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 502 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19399593&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC25LA110%20photos-Rel.pdf 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.