# NTSB ANC04LA035: Cessna 180H, N2472F, Talkeetna, AK, March 22, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 22, 2004, 15:15 local (19:15 UTC) - Place: Talkeetna, AK - Coordinates: 62.974998, -150.800003 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.9750&lon=-150.8000&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 29, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA-AL-ANC FSDO 03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 58938 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC04LA035 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58938/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC04LA035 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for takeoff, which resulted in a collision with a snow drift during takeoff/initial climb. Factors contributing to the accident were the snow-covered and uneven terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - initial climb - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airline transport certificated pilot was departing from a snow-covered area on a remote glacier in a ski-equipped airplane. During the downhill takeoff from the glacier, the pilot said that the left main landing gear ski collided with snow-covered terrain just after the airplane became airborne, and the left main landing gear strut was torn off the fuselage. During the subsequent emergency landing on the snow, the airplane received additional damage to the left wing and fuselage. The pilot said the weather conditions were clear, and the visibility was unrestricted. An emergency locator transmitter (ELT) signal was received by search and rescue personnel, and the airplane's occupants were picked up by a rescue helicopter. In the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1) submitted by the pilot, the pilot indicated that the landing/takeoff area had 6 to 8 feet high snow drifts, but the area was still being used by local ski-equipped aircraft. ## Factual narrative On March 22, 2004, about 1515 Alaska standard time, a ski-equipped Cessna 180H airplane, N2472F, sustained substantial damage when it collided with snow-covered terrain during takeoff-initial climb from a remote glacier, about 43 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 operated by the pilot. The airline transport certificated pilot, and the two passengers, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot departed from Palmer, Alaska, at 1122 on a round-robin VFR flight plan to the Lake Hood Seaplane Base, Anchorage, Alaska, to the Ruth Glacier, and return. At 1745, Federal Aviation Administration personnel received a relayed report from an overlying aircraft that the accident airplane was disabled on the Ruth Glacier. The airplane was declared overdue, and search and rescue personnel were notified. An emergency locator transmitter (ELT) signal was received by search and rescue personnel in the area of the accident. The occupants of the airplane were picked up by a rescue helicopter at 2025. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on March 23, the pilot reported that he departed Finger Lake Seaplane Base in Palmer to pick up passengers at Lake Hood. The flight then continued to the Sheldon Mountain House, located on the Ruth Glacier in the Alaska Range. During the downhill takeoff from the glacier, the pilot said that the left main landing gear ski collided with snow-covered terrain just after the airplane became airborne, and the left main landing gear strut was torn off the fuselage. During the subsequent emergency landing on the snow, the airplane received additional damage to the left wing and fuselage. The pilot said the weather conditions were clear, and the visibility was unrestricted. In the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1) submitted by the pilot, the pilot indicated that the landing/takeoff area had 6 to 8 feet high snow drifts, but the area was still being used by local ski-equipped aircraft. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2472F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2472F), registered now, S/N 18051674, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 180H - Registry model: [Cessna 180H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180h) (registry code 2072618) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18051674 - Engines: Continental O-470-K 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Rex L Gray - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 20, 2003, 39 hours before - Departed: Talkeetna, AK - Destination: 99Z, Palmer, AK - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial, flight engineer, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review October 9, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 19,900 total, 1,250 in this make and model, 16,500 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 32 °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 20040322004909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040322004909A), Mar 22, 2004: Cessna 180H, Talkeetna, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) Ski-equipped Cessna 180 attempted to depart ruth glacier with two passengers. According to the pilot, the aircraft became airborne, the left ski… ## Other investigations on N2472F (3) 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 ANC72FFAA2](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC72FFAA2), Jun 27, 1971: Cessna 180H (N2472F), Healey, AK, substantial damage - [NTSB ANC70AA073](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC70AA073), Apr 20, 1970: Cessna 180 (N2472F), New Minto, AK, substantial damage - [NTSB UNK67X0142](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK67X0142), Jul 20, 1967: Cessna 180H (N2472F), Fort Yukon, AK, substantial damage 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.