# NTSB WPR20CA089: Cessna 208, N24MG, Eureka, CA, February 6, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 6, 2020, 06:56 local (14:56 UTC) - Place: Eureka, CA - Coordinates: 40.823333, -124.14167 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8233&lon=-124.1417&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern base: VFR encounter with IMC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report July 27, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - NTSB case key (mKey): 100925 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR20CA089 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100925/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100925 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20CA089 ## Probable cause The pilot's delayed response to initiate a go-around during a night visual approach over water after the airplane entered instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in a loss of forward visibility and subsequent impact with the water. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 208B, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=2073701), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Ceiling/visibility/precip: low visibility](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 208B, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035015/cases.md?model=2073701), [All aircraft, 175 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern base: VFR encounter with IMC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 208B, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401/sequence.md?model=2073701), [All aircraft, 392 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 208B, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2073701), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis While the pilot was on a visual approach to the airport and descending over water on the left base leg, about 100 ft above the water's surface, the airplane entered instrument meteorological conditions with no forward visibility. The pilot looked outside his left window to gauge the airplane's altitude and saw "black waves of water approaching extremely rapidly." He tried to pull back on the yoke to initiate a climb, but the nosewheel contacted the water. Subsequently, the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted in the water. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative During the cross-country night flight, the airline transport pilot was on a visual approach to the airport. While descending over water on the left base leg, about 100 ft above the surface, the flight entered instrument meteorological conditions with no forward visibility. The pilot looked outside his left window to gage his height and saw "black waves of water approaching extremely rapidly". He tried to pull back on the yoke to initiate the climb, but the nose wheel contacted the water. The airplane nosed over coming to rest inverted in the ocean water. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N24MG](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N24MG-2021-01-16), registration cancelled 2021-01-16, S/N 208B0850, built 2000 (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-42A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-42a) (registry code 52268, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 208B0850 - Year built: 2000 - Airframe hours: 19184 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-42A 850 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Redding Aero Enterprises Inc - Registered owner: Redding Aero Enterprises Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 2, 2020 - Departed: MHR, Sacramento, CA - Destination: ACV, Arcata/Eureka, CA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: EKA, Murray Field, runway 12, 3,011 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, Electronic multifunction display, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Onboard weather ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: minor; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 6, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 10,156 total, 1,282 in this make and model, 9,644 as pilot in command, 153 in the last 90 days, 51 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: calm - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Altimeter: 30.29 inHg - Observed at: ACV, 10 nm away ## 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 20200206004309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200206004309A), Feb 6, 2020: Cessna 208B, Arcata, CA, Substantial damage. Aircraft departed kmhr at 0530 on an IFR flight plan for kacv with the intent of changing his destination to keka weather permitting. The incident pilot… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 31, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100925. 1.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481735&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photo (item 2, .PDF, 73 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481736&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-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.