Summary
On February 06, 2025, a Textron Aviation INC 208B (N321BA) was involved in an accident near Nome, AK. The accident resulted in 10 fatal injuries. The aircraft was destroyed.
On February 6, 2025, about 1520 Alaska standard time, a Textron Aviation (Cessna) 208B airplane, N321BA, operated as Bering Air flight 445, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Nome, Alaska. The pilot and nine passengers were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 135 scheduled commuter flight. FLIGHT SUMMARY AND COMMUNICATIONS The operator reported the pilot initially departed from Nome Airport (PAOM), Nome, Alaska, and proceeded to Saint Michael Airport (PAMK), Saint Michael, Alaska, and then to Unalakleet Airport (PAUN), Unalakleet, Alaska. He arrived at PAUN about 1028.
This accident is documented in NTSB report ANC25MA018. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N321BA.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the pilot’s inadequate airspeed management due to workload and degraded situation awareness and his improper inputs leading up to and during the aerodynamic stall, which increased the airplane’s angle of attack. Also causal was operation of the airplane above maximum gross weight, which reduced the airplane’s stall margin. Contributing to the accident were the operator’s inadequate safety management, which allowed the routine operation of flights that exceeded weight limitations, and the Federal Aviation Administration’s inadequate oversight of the operator, which failed to identify and address the routine operation of overweight flights.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ANC25MA018