# NTSB ANC02LA039: Cessna 185, N80994, Talkeetna, AK, May 25, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 24, 2002, 23:15 local (May 25, 2002, 07:15 UTC) - Place: Talkeetna, AK - Coordinates: 62.3125, -149.753616 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.3125&lon=-149.7536&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 5 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 29, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 54775 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC02LA039 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54775/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54775 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC02LA039 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate evaluation of weather conditions, which precipitated an in-flight loss of control and subsequent collision with terrain. A factor contributing to the accident was the tailwind. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, takeoff - initial climb - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - weather evaluation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - climb - not attained, pilot in command - stall/mush - encountered, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - initial climb - terrain condition - snow covered ## Analysis The certificated airline transport pilot was departing in a wheel-ski equipped airplane from a climbing base camp located at the 7,200 foot level of a glacial ice field. Due to terrain clearance, the standard takeoff run is to the southeast, and down-slope on a 1,500 foot long snow-covered glacial site. The pilot said that prior to starting his takeoff run, he noted that there was a 3 to 5 knot tailwind. During the takeoff run, as the airplane neared the end of the site, the airplane became airborne, then settled onto the glacier. The airplane bounced three times and the right main landing gear collapsed. The airplane nosed over, and came to rest inverted, sustaining substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot noted that after he exited the airplane, he discovered that the tailwind had increased to about 10 knots. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident anomalies with the airplane. ## Factual narrative On May 24, 2002, about 2315 Alaska daylight time, a wheel/ski-equipped Cessna 185 airplane, N80994, sustained substantial damage when it collided with terrain during takeoff from an off airport site, located on the Kahiltna Glacier, about 45 miles northwest of Talkeetna, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was owned by Talkeetna Air Taxi, Inc., Talkeetna. The certificated airline transport pilot, and the four passengers aboard, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a VFR flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the accident site about 2310, and was en route to the Talkeetna Airport, Talkeetna. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on May 25, the pilot reported that he had utilized the airplane to fly three company employees to a mountain climbing base camp located at the 7,200 foot level of the Kahiltna Glacier. The pilot said that the purpose of the flight was to visit some friends at the base camp, and deliver a pizza to them. He added that while preparing for his return trip, he was asked to transport an additional passenger back to Talkeetna, and he agreed to do so. The pilot stated that due to terrain clearance, the standard takeoff run is to the southeast, and down-slope on a 1,500 foot long snow-covered glacial site. He said that prior to starting his takeoff run, he noted that there was a 3 to 5 knot tailwind. During the takeoff run, as the airplane neared the end of the site, the airplane became airborne, then settled onto the glacier. The airplane bounced three times and the right main landing gear collapsed. The airplane nosed over, and came to rest inverted, sustaining substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot noted that after he exited the airplane, he discovered that the tailwind had increased to about 10 knots. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident anomalies with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N80994](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N80994-2003-01-22), registration cancelled 2003-01-22, S/N 18503144, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 185 - Registry model: [Cessna A185F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185f) (registry code 2072821) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18503144 - Airframe hours: 4409 - Engines: Continental IO-520F 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Talkeetna Air Taxi Inc - Registered owner: Talkeetna Air Taxi, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 20, 2002, 10 hours before - Departed: Talkeetna, AK - Destination: TKA, Talkeetna, AK - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review July 31, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 2,700 total, 900 in this make and model, 1,500 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 5 knots, gusting 10 - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Temperature: 39 °F ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20020524011459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020524011459A), May 24, 2002: Cessna A185F, Talkeetna, AK, No damage. (-23) Take-off was normal from 7200' level of kahiltna glacier base camp. A normal 3-5KT down glacier wind (tailwind). After lift-off approximately 200' lower… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 11, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54775. 501 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 501 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40438660&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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. --- 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.