# NTSB ERA20CA095: Cessna 208, N988FX, Baltimore, MD, February 7, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 7, 2020, 04:15 local (08:15 UTC) - Place: Baltimore, MD - Coordinates: 39.175834, -76.668891 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1758&lon=-76.6689&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-IFR final approach: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 17, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/CMO, FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 100912 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA20CA095 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100912/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100912 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20CA095 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the approach lights during an instrument approach. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 208B, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=2073701), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: runway/taxi/approach light](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022012): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 208B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022012/cases.md?model=2073701), [All aircraft, 106 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022012/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-IFR final approach: 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 The pilot was conducting an instrument landing system approach in night instrument meteorological conditions. The pilot was using the autopilot for the approach to the destination airport and disengaged it when he had the runway and airport lighting system in view. The pilot reported that, as he approached the runway, he heard a sound and thought the airplane had hit a bird. He felt the airplane pitch up, so he increased engine power and pitched down to reach the runway. After the pilot landed and taxied to the ramp, he saw that a large piece of an approach light was caught on the right main landing gear. Further examination revealed that the empennage, right horizontal stabilizer, right wing strut, and front cargo pod had sustained substantial damage. The operator reported that the airplane had struck four approach light towers and a localizer antenna. ## Factual narrative The pilot was conducting an instrument landing system approach in night instrument meteorological conditions to the destination airport. The pilot was utilizing the autopilot for the approach and disengaged it when he had the runway and airport lighting system in view. As he approached the runway, the pilot heard a sound and thought the airplane had hit a bird. He felt the airplane pitch up so he increased engine power and pitched down in order to reach the runway. After the pilot landed and taxied to the ramp, he saw that a large piece of an approach light was caught on the airplane's right main landing gear. Further inspection revealed that the airplane's empennage, right horizontal stabilizer, right wing strut, and front cargo pod were also damaged. The operator reported that the airplane had struck four separate approach light towers as well as a localizer antenna. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N988FX](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N988FX), registered now, S/N 208B2400, built 2012 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 208 (B) - Registry model: [Cessna 208B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-208b) (registry code 2073701) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-114A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-114a) (registry code 52257, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 208B2400 - Year built: 2012 - Airframe hours: 3497.4 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-114A 675 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Mountain Air Cargo Inc - Registered owner: Federal Express Corp - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, November 26, 2019, 97 hours before - Departed: EWR, Newark, NJ - Destination: BWI, Baltimore, MD - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: BWI, Baltimore/Washington Intl Thur, runway 10, 10,503 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Handheld GPS, Onboard weather, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 23, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 2,011 total, 400 in this make and model, 1,352 as pilot in command, 62 in the last 90 days, 31 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night - Wind: calm - Visibility: 1.8 statute miles - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.18 inHg - Observed at: BWI ## 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 20200207002779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200207002779A), Feb 7, 2020: Cessna 208B, Baltimore, MD, Substantial damage. On 02/07/2020 at approximately 0415 local time, mountain air cargo flight 8308 (MTNA8308) conducted a flight from newark liberty international airport (ewr) to… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 7, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100912. 4.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40482095&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Memprandum of Record - Pilot Interview (item 2, .PDF, 112 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40482096&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memprandum%20of%20Record%20-%20Pilot%20Interview-Master.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 3, .PDF, 126 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40482097&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Photos (item 4, .PDF, 319 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40482098&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-Master.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.