Cessna 208B
Aircraft Manufacturer: Cessna
Model: 208B
About the Cessna 208B
The Cessna 208B Grand Caravan is a single-engine turboprop utility aircraft that Cessna built for regional passenger and cargo work. The type was first delivered in 1990. More than 600 Grand Caravans are active on the U.S. civil registry, a fleet that ranks 34th-largest in Cessna's lineup.
More than 1,000 Grand Caravan airframes have been removed from the U.S. registry over the model's history. Deregistrations account for about 60% of all registry records the type has held.
The Grand Caravan has 23 recorded accidents, of which 5 were fatal. Over its FAA-registration exposure, the type's accident rate works out to about 1.7 per 1,000 aircraft-years. Against a cohort of the same aircraft type, engine class, and seat range, the model has a higher accident rate than about half of comparable types.
The FAA has issued 11 airworthiness directives against the type, 10 of which remain active. The most recent was issued July 27, 2009.
Aircraft Details
| Manufacturer | Cessna |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer Serial Number | 2073700 |
| Model | 208B |
| Category | Land |
| Aircraft Type | Fixed wing single engine |
| Weight | Class 1 (Up to 12,499 lbs gross take off weight) |
| Engine Type | Turbo-prop |
| Number of Engines | 1 engine |
| Number of Seats | 12 seats |
Photo: Lt. Col. Scott Voskovitch —
public-domain
via Wikimedia Commons
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Safety Analysis
Composition of NTSB accident records for this model in general-aviation operations (FAR Part 91 and 137), based on NTSB data as of May 1, 2026. It's a breakdown of recorded accidents rather than a safety rating, and types with significant non-GA operation (such as Part 135) may be under-represented.
Accidents are identity-confirmed against FAA registration records (two independent sources).
19 exact, 5 recovered, 1 provisional
MethodologyTotal recorded general-aviation accidents within the analyzed period.
5 fatal accidents.
20.0% of recorded accidents were fatal.
Active aircraft fleet size contributing to the exposure data.
13,701 (± 450)
Aircraft-years of FAA registration exposure (2008–present).
Within its peer cohort
Within this model's peer class (same aircraft type, engine class, and seat range), comparison of its share of recorded NTSB accidents to its share of FAA registration exposure (aircraft-years since 2008).
This is a share comparison, not flight-hours adjusted, so a model flown more per airframe than its peers will show an accident share above its exposure share even if its per-hour safety is average. Methodology →
Accidents by year
Recorded NTSB general-aviation accidents per calendar year, derived directly from the NTSB accident database. Each bar shows the accidents that occurred in that year. Methodology →
Phase of flight
Which phase of flight each accident occurred in, as coded by the NTSB. Most accidents happen in the phases where most flying time is concentrated, so this isn't a measure of which phase is most dangerous.
Finding category
Top-level NTSB cause category, from the coded investigation findings. An accident often has more than one finding, so totals here can exceed the recorded accident count.
Injury severity
NTSB classification of the worst injury in each accident: None, Minor, Serious, or Fatal. Each accident counts in exactly one severity.
Operating-rule mix (all parts): 135 (70)· 091 (24)· NUSC (20)· NUSN (16)· UNK (9)· 129 (1)· 137 (1)
Recorded Accidents
All 25 recorded NTSB general-aviation accidents for this model, most recent first.
| Date | Location | Tail | Damage | Highest injury | Phase of flight | Finding categories |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monroe, NJ | N716MM | Substantial | Serious | Enroute | unknown | |
| Honolulu, HI | N689KA | Destroyed | Fatal | Uncontrolled descent | unknown | |
| New York, NY | N143CA | Substantial | None | Takeoff | Personnel issues | |
| Whitewright, TX | N420DZ | Substantial | None | Landing | Aircraft | |
| Youngstown, NY | N1259K | Destroyed | Fatal | Enroute | unknown | |
| Suffolk, VA | N716MM | Substantial | None | Landing | Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| Snohomish, WA | N2069B | Substantial | Fatal | Maneuvering | Personnel issues, Aircraft | |
| Oceanside, CA | N7581F | Substantial | Fatal | Landing | Personnel issues, Aircraft | |
| Campbellton, TX | N108RF | Substantial | None | Maneuvering | Personnel issues, Aircraft | |
| Oceanside, CA | N10JA | Substantial | Serious | Approach | Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| Laceyville, PA | N143CA | Substantial | None | Maneuvering | Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues, Organizational issues | |
| Pepperell, MA | N895SF | Substantial | None | Approach | Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues | |
| Plant City, FL | N80JF | Substantial | None | Landing | Personnel issues, Aircraft | |
| Mulino, OR | N9829B | Substantial | None | Landing | Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| Baldwin, WI | N7581F | Substantial | None | Landing | Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues | |
| Acampo, CA | N1114A | Substantial | Minor | Enroute | Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| Grand Forks, ND | N617ST | Substantial | None | Standing | Personnel issues, Aircraft | |
| Verdigris, OK | N106BZ | Substantial | Minor | Enroute | Aircraft, Organizational issues | |
| Hearne, TX | N878C | Substantial | Serious | Maneuvering | Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues | |
| Egegik, AK | N208SM | Substantial | None | Takeoff | Personnel issues, Environmental issues | |
| Kwethluk, AK | N126AR | Destroyed | Fatal | Maneuvering | Personnel issues, Aircraft | |
| Statesboro, GA | N127AR | Substantial | None | Landing | Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| Raeford, NC | N80GE | Substantial | None | Landing | Personnel issues, Aircraft | |
| Albuquerque, NM | N164SA | Substantial | None | Landing | Aircraft | |
| Greensburg, IN | N102VE | Substantial | None | Enroute | Aircraft, Personnel issues |
Airworthiness Directives
Composition of FAA airworthiness directives (ADs) that apply to this model, as of October 15, 2026. ADs are mandatory FAA-issued corrective actions for safety-of-flight issues. Pilots, owners, and operators should always verify against the current FAA AD listing before any maintenance or flight action. Methodology →
10 active · 11 total airworthiness directives issued against this model · most recent:
Directives by year
Count of airworthiness directives issued against this model per calendar year (publication date in the Federal Register). Includes both active and superseded directives. An active AD still applies; a superseded one was replaced by a later AD.
Recent directives
The most recent airworthiness directives applicable to this model, by effective date. A Superseded badge means a later AD has replaced this one; we still list the original so it isn't lost from the page.
| AD number | Effective date | Subject | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
2009-15-05 |
Airworthiness Directives; Cessna Aircraft Company Models 208 and 208B Airplanes | Active | |
2009-05-12 |
Airworthiness Directives; Cessna Aircraft Company Models 208 and 208B Airplanes | Active | |
2008-13-06 |
Airworthiness Directives; Cessna Aircraft Company Models 208 and 208B Airplanes | Active | |
2007-10-15 |
Airworthiness Directives; Cessna Aircraft Company Models 208 and 208B Airplanes | Active | |
2006-06-06 |
Airworthiness Directives; The Cessna Aircraft Company Models 208 and 208B Airplanes | Superseded |