# Accident 20140823014779A: Cessna 175, Talkeetna, AK, August 23, 2014

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 23, 2014, 14:30 local time
- Place: Talkeetna, AK
- Airport: Unimproved Tundra
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Departure Roll
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 62.5278° N, 149.9181° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.5278&lon=-149.9181&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7119M, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7119M) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 175 (registry code 2072502, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-175) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series (registry code 41514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 175
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O&VO-360 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 741 total, 216 in this make and model, 40 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC14CA067](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC14CA067) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140823014779A

## Narrative

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

INSPECTORS INTERVIEWED PILOT ON AUGUST 27. PILOTSTATED THAT HE WAS FRIENDS WITH THE OWNER OF THE UNIMPROVED AIRPORT WHERE THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED, AND THAT HE DISCUSSED THE CONDITION OF THE AIRPORT AND THE BEST APPROACH/DEPARTURE PROCEDURES TO BE USED WHEN OPERATING THERE. THEY ALSO DISCUSSED THE FACT THAT THIS AIRPORT IS LOCATED ON A RIDGE TOP AND THAT THE WINDS CAN GET VERY SQUIRRELY AT ANY TIME. THE PILOT STATED WINDS WHERE CHANGING DIRECTION AND GUSTING BETWEEN 8-10 KNOTS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.  PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS UP LATE THE NIGHT BEFORE THE ACCIDENT BECAUSE HE WAS OUT WITH FRIENDS PLANNING THEIR UPCOMING HUNTING TRIP SO HE DID NOT GET THE USUAL AMOUNT OF SLEEP HE NORMALLY WOULD PRIOR TO FLYING. HE HAD MADE THREE PREVIOUS LANDINGS AND THE LANDING GOING INTO THE AIRPORT WHERE THE ACCIDENT TOOK PLACE. THIS WAS HIS FIRST TIME AT THIS AIRPORT, SO HE MADE SEVERAL, 8-10, PASSES PRIOR TO LANDING. HE LANDED DOWNHILL IN GUSTY WINDS WHICH GOT HIS ADRENALINE FLOWING AND MADE HIM ANXIOUS WHEN IT CAME TIME TO THINK ABOUT DEPARTING THE AIRPORT. REFLECTING ON THE ACCIDENT, HE STATED THAT HE DID NOT PERFORM A CHECKLIST AFTER LANDING OR PRIOR TO TAKE-OFF FROM THE ACCIDENT AIRPORT, SO AFTER THE ACCIDENT, HE NOTICED THAT THE PROPELLER CONTROL WAS NOT PUSHED ALL THE WAY FORWARD (REQUIRED TO ACHIEVE FULL POWER) AND HE PARTIALLY APPLIED BRAKES DURING TAKEOFF RUN BECAUSE HE WAS ANXIOUS ABOUT THE TAKE-OFF AND THE WIND MADE HIM NERVOUS. THIS MADE HIM TENSE ON THE PEDALS AND HE INADVERTENTLY WAS APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES. AS A RESULT, THE AIRCRAFT WAS HAVING DIFFICULTY ACCELERATING. ONCE THE AIRCRAFT DID REACH A SPEED IN WHICH THE WINGS COULD GENERATE LIFT, THE BRAKES WOULD DECELERATE THE AIRCRAFT EVERY TIME THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED A BUMP OR RISE IN TERRAIN DURING THE TAKE-OFF ROLL. HE INITIATED TAKE-OFF UP-HILL (TO THE NORTH) FROM BOTTOM OF HILL WITH SWIRLING WINDS BECAUSE THE PREVAILING WINDS WERE COMING FROM OUT OF THE NORTH. HE FAILED TO OUT CLIMB THE GRADIENT AND ONCE MINIMUM AMOUNT OF LIFT WAS GENERATED, TURNED AWAY FROM HILL IN EFFORT TO INCREASE CLIMB RATE BECAUSE AT THE TOP OF THE INCLINE, THE TERRAIN INCREASED SUBSTANTIALLY. AS SOON AS THE TURN WAS INITIATED, THE AIRCRAFT LOST LIFT, THE LEFT WING STRUCK A TREE AND SETTLED INTO TREES ON THE SIDE OF THE RIDGE CREST IN A DEPRESSION. THE PILOT WAS UNINJURED BUT THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED 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 ANC14CA067](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC14CA067), Aug 23, 2014: Cessna 175 (N7119M), Talkeetna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's selection of an unsuitable takeoff area, resulting in a loss of control and subsequent inflight collision with terrain during takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's 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.

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