# Accident 19980516009449A: Cessna A185F, Talkeetna, AK, May 16, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 16, 1998, 15:50 local time
- Place: Talkeetna, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: INYC
- Location: 62.4495° N, 149.7897° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.4495&lon=-149.7897&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1473F, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1473F) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna A185F (registry code 2072821, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185f) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental IO-520 series (registry code 17032, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA A185F
- Reported engine: CONT IO520D
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 8,000 total, 500 in this make and model, 70 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC98LA047](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA047) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980516009449A

## Narrative

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

(.4)THE PILOT AND WITNESSES DESCRIBED THE AIRPLANE TOUCHING DOWN WITH A 20 KNOT TAILWIND ON THE LAST 25% OF THE APPROXIMATLEY 600 FEET LONG, PACKED SNOW, LANDING AREA. THE PILOT SAID THAT ON SHORT FINAL HE RECOGNIZED THE TAILWIND,  BUT BECAUSE OF TERRAIN THERE WAS NOT MANEUVERING ROOM TO ATTEMPT A GO AROUND.  THE AIRPLANE BOUNCED, AND OVERRAN THE LANDING AREA.  THE PILOT SAID HE LOST FORWARD VISIBILITY IN WHITEOUT CONDITIONS, AND INTENTIONALLY GROUND LOOPED THE AIRPLANE TO STOP. (-23)  THE PILOT AND THREE PASSENGERS WERE LANDING ON THE KAHILTNA GLACIER.  THE AIRCRAFT LANDED IN THE FINAL ONE THIRD OF THE LANDING AREA BOUNCED TWICE AND THE PILOT GROUND LOOPED THE AIRCRAFT TO KEEP FROM GOING OFF THE LANDING ZONE.  THERE WAS A 15-20 KNOT TAIL WIND AT THE LANDING SIGHT.  THE AIRCRAFT RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.

## 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 ANC98LA047](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA047), May 16, 1998: Cessna A185F (N1473F), Talkeetna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot selected the wrong runway and intentionally ground looped to stop the airplane. Related factors were the tailwind and whiteout conditions.

## Other reports on N1473F (2)

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

- [Incident 19940718029889I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940718029889I), Jul 18, 1994: Cessna A185F (N1473F), Fairbanks, AK, Minor damage. On takeoff tailwheel bracket failed wheel exited aircraft. Damaged elevator returned to Fairbanks. Bracket prior cr
- [Incident 19820912063109I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820912063109I), Sep 12, 1982: Cessna 185F (N1473F), Iliamna, AK, Minor damage. Pilot beleived he was out of fuel. Landed 5 to 10 miles short of destination. He later reported he had fuel.

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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