# Accident 19970723019519A: Cessna 185, Talkeetna, AK, July 23, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 23, 1997, 14:00 local time
- Place: Talkeetna, AK
- Airport: Kahiltnaglacierstrip
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Climb
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: EMWC
- Location: 62.4493° N, 149.7893° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.4493&lon=-149.7893&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9855X, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9855X) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 185 (registry code 2072802, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-185) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental IO-520 series (registry code 17032, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 185
- Reported engine: CONT IO520D
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 3,450 total, 955 in this make and model, 60 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC97LA110](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97LA110) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970723019519A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

CRASHED ON TAKEOFF. (.19)  ON JULY 23, 1997, AT 1400 ALASKA DAYLIGHT TIME, A CESSNA 185 SKI EQUIPPED AIRPLANE, N9855X, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN IT IMPACTED TERRAIN DURING TAKEOFF FROM THE 9,600 FOOT LEVEL OF THE KAHILTNA GLACIER, ALASKA, AT POSITION 63-03.4 NORTH LATITUDE, 151-11.0 WEST LONGITUDE. THE COMMERCIAL CERTIFICATED PILOT AND THREE PASSENGERS WERE UNINJURED. THE AIRPLANE WAS OPERATED BY HUDSON AIR SERVICE, INC., OF TALKEETNA, ALASKA. THE FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED UNDER 14 CR PART 135 INVISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS, AS AN ON DEMAND AIR TAXI.  THE PILOT STATED THAT HE DEPARTED DOWNHILL, WITH A 10-15 KNOT DOWN-GLACEIR WIND. THE PILOT STATED THAT JUST AFTER BECOMING AIRBORNE, WITH HIS DESCENT RATE ALMOST ARRESTED, THE AIRPLANE CONTACTED RISING TERRAIN, AND CAME TO REST AT THE 8,400 FOOT LEVEL.                            (.4) THE PILOT MADE A STEEP DOWNSLOPE, DOWNWIND, DEPARTURE FROM A 1,000-FOOT-LONG PACKED SNOW STRIP AT 9,500 FEET MSL. THE DEPARTURE PATH WAS DOWN A STEEP CANYON. THE LIGHTING WAS FLAT, WITH NO CONTRAST AVAILABLE TO SEE THE SNOW COVERED TERRAIN. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED RISING TERRAIN SHORTLY AFTER TAK                                                       EOFF.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

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.

- [NTSB ANC97LA110](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97LA110), Jul 23, 1997: Cessna 185 (N9855X), Talkeetna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilots failure to maintain terrain clearance during the downslope, downwind, high altitude, takeoff. Factors were the snow and lighting conditions, and the tailwind takeoff.

## Other reports on N9855X (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19980609020289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980609020289A), Jun 9, 1998: Cessna A185E (N9855X), Chickaloon, AK, Substantial damage. Transporting persons an cargo to base camp on a glacier. Engine quit on final. Hard landing short of landing area. (.4)the certificated commercial pilot was…
- [Accident 19800718031489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800718031489A), Jul 18, 1980: Cessna 185 (N9855X), Collinsville, AK, No damage

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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