# Accident 20240421004419A: Cessna 120, Talkeetna, AK, April 21, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 21, 2024, 14:45 local time
- Place: Talkeetna, AK
- Airport: Talkeetna
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 62.3180° N, 150.0952° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.3180&lon=-150.0952&mi=10
- Aircraft: N77032, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N77032) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 120 (registry code 2071402, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-120) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental C85 series (registry code 17008, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 120
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 989 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC24LA025](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC24LA025) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240421004419A

## Narrative

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

PILOT SUMPED BOTH TANKS PRIOR TO FLIGHT AND NOTED APPROXIMATELY SIX GALLONS IN EACH  WING. ENGINE WAS WARMED FOR TEN MINUTES PRIOR TO TAXI AND OPERATION WAS NORMAL.  MAGNETO AND CARBURETOR HEAT CHECKS WERE NORMAL.  PILOT VERIFIED RIGHT TANK WAS SELECTED PRIOR TO DEPARTURE.  AT APPROXIMATELY 300 AGL ON INITIAL CLIMB OUT ENGINE RPM DROPPED FROM 2400 TO 15OO MULTIPLE TIMES.  PILOT REVERIFIED TANK SELECTION AND LEVELLED THE AIRPLANE. THE ENGINE QUIT AND THE PILOT TURNED TO THE LEFT TO ATTEMPT TO MAKE IF BACK TO THE RUNWAY AS THERE WERE MULTIPLE BIRCH TREES DIRECTLY AHEAD AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY.  AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN SHORT OF THE RUNWAT IN A SNOW-COVERED AREA.  AIRCRAFT STAYED ON TOP OF THE SNOW FOR APPROXIMATELY 40 YARDS BEFORE THE TIRES BROKE THROUGH THE SNOW AND THE AIRCRAFT FLIPPED ONTO IT'S BACK CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE WINGS AND WING STRUTS.  PILOT EXITED THE AIRCRAFT THEN TURNED OFF FUEL AND MASTER SWITCHES.

## 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 ANC24LA025](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC24LA025), Apr 21, 2024: Cessna 120 (N77032), Talkeetna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: A degraded ignition system, which resulted in a total loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident was maintenance personnel’s inadequate inspection of the ignition system.

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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