# Accident 19980831029939A: Cessna A185F, Talkeetna, AK, August 31, 1998 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: August 31, 1998, 17:50 local time - Place: Talkeetna, AK - Airport: Talkeetna Airport - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Roll-Out (Fixed Wing) - Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135) - Operator: INYC - Location: 62.4507° N, 149.7903° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.4507&lon=-149.7903&mi=10 - Aircraft: N333DG, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N333DG) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Cessna A185F (registry code 2072821, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185f) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Continental IO-520-D (registry code 17236, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-d) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA A185F - Reported engine: CONT IO520D - People aboard: 5 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Pilot flight hours: 755 total, 200 in this make and model, 170 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC98LA134](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA134) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980831029939A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. (.19)ON AUGUST 31, 1998, ABOUT 1750 ALASKA DAYLIGHT TIME, A WHEEL EQUIPPED CESSNA 185E AIRPLANE, N333DG, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHILE LANDING AT THE TALKEETNA AIRPORT, TALDEETNA, ALASKA. THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING OPERATED AS A VISUAL FLIGHT RULES (VFR) LOCAL AREA FLIGHTSEEING FLIGHT UNDER TITLE 14 CFR PART 135 WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE CERTIFICATED COMMERCIAL PILOT, AND THE FOUR PASSENGERS ABOARD, WERE NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND A COMPANY FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT THE TALKEETNA AIRPORT, ABOUT 1700. DURING A TELEPHONE CONVERSATION WITH THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD INVESTIGATOR-IN-CHARGE, ON AUGUST 1, 1998, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD JUST LANDED ON RUNWAY 18. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE TOUCHDOWN AND THE LANDING ROLL WAS UNEVENTFUL, UNTIL THE AIRPLANE'S NOSE VEERED SLIGHT TO THE RIGHT. THE PILOT COMPENSATED BY APPLYING LEFT RUDDER, AND AIRPLANE SUDDENLY GROUND LOOPED TO THE LEFT. THE LEFT WING AND LEFT ELEVATOR COLLIDED WITH THE RUNWAY DURING THE GROUND LOOP, AND BOTH SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING THE GROUND LOOP THE LEFT WHEEL CASTING SEPARATED, AND WAS FOUND ABOUT TWENTY FEET BEHIND THE ACCIDENT SITE. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE WIND CONDITIONS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WERE REPORTED TO BE CALM. (.4) THE COMMERCIAL PILOT WAS LANDING A TAILWHEEL EQUIPPED AIRPLANE ON A GRAVEL RUNWAY. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE TOUCHDOWN AND THE LANDING ROLL WERE UNEVENTFUL, UNTIL THE AIRPLANE'S NOSE VEERED SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT. HE SAID HE COMPENSATED BY APPLYING LEFT RUDDER, BUT THE AIRPLANE SUDDENLY GROUND LOOPED TO THE RIGHT. THE LEFT WING AND LEFT ELEVATOR COLLIDED WITH THE RUNWAY DURING THE GROUND LOOP, AND BOTH SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING THE GROUND LOOP, THE LEFT WHEEL CASTING SEPARATED. IN THE NTSB PILOT/OPERATOR REPORT, THE CHIEF PILOT STATED THAT THE FLIGHT WAS RETURNING TO TALKEETNA EARLIER THAN SCHEDULED WITH A SICK PASSENGER ABOARD. HE SAID THAT THE PILOT INTENDED TO LAND IN THE GRAVEL AREA JUST SHORT OF THE PAVED RUNWAY, ELIMINATING THE NEED TO BACK TAXI, AND ALLOWING THE SICK PASSENGER TO EXIT THE AIRPLANE SOONER. THE OPERATOR REPORTED THAT DURING TOUCHDOWN, THE PILOT LANDED SIDEWAYS, AND THE LEFT WHEEL CASTING SEPARATED. WIND CONDITIONS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WERE REPORTED TO BE CALM. (-23) ON AUGUST 31, 1998, AT 1755 ADT, A CESSNA 185, AIRCRAFT 333DE SUSTAINED DAMAGE WHILE LANDING AT THE TALKEETNA AIRPORT. THE PILOT STATED THE LANDING AND INITIAL ROLL-OUT WERE NORMAL, WHEN THE PILOT CORRECTED A SLIGHT VEER TO THE RIGHT, THE AIRCRAFT SUDDENLY GROUND-LOOPED TO THE LEFT. DAMAGE WAS LIMITED TO THE LEFT WING, LEFT ELEVATOR, AND LEFT WHEEL ASSEMBLY. ## 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 ANC98LA134](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA134), Sep 1, 1998: Cessna 185E (N333DG), Talkeetna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control resulting in a inadvertent ground loop. A contributing factor was the induced pressure on the pilot by a sick passenger. ## Other reports on N333DG (2) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Accident 20020615017409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020615017409A), Jun 15, 2002: Cessna A185F (N333DG), Talkeetna, AK, No damage. (-23) On June 15, 2002, about 0015 adt, the wheel-equipped Cessna A185F aircraft, operating on a FAR 135 on-demand charter flight, sustained substantial damage… - [Accident 19930531019829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930531019829A), May 31, 1993: Cessna A185F (N333DG), Kahiltna Glacie, AK, Substantial damage. Right wing bent upward by contact with glacier on takeoff roll. Conflicting statements. Ground loop or gear failure 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. --- 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.