# NTSB ANC05LA104: Cessna 185, N332DG, Talkeetna, AK, July 24, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 24, 2005, 14:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Talkeetna, AK - Coordinates: 62.320556, -150.093612 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.3206&lon=-150.0936&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 28, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA-AL-ANC FSDO 03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 62051 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC05LA104 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62051/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC05LA104 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to compensate for wind conditions and his failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll, which resulted in an excursion off the side of the runway and a nose over. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis The airline transport certificated pilot was landing a tailwheel-equipped airplane at the conclusion of a Title 14 CFR Part 135 sightseeing flight. Aviation Routine Weather Reports (METARs) before and after the accident were reporting a slight left crosswind of 3 to 5 knots. The pilot reported that as he began his landing approach, the automated terminal information system (ATIS) was reporting a slight left crosswind at 8 knots and gusts. He said that during his landing approach, there was a 30 degree right crosswind with gusty wind conditions, and that during the landing roll, a gust of wind lifted the right wing, and the airplane became airborne. He attempted to maintain control of the airplane by application of engine power and rudder, but once the airplane touched down again, it headed toward the right side of the runway. The pilot reduced power and applied the brakes. The airplane nosed over off the right side of the runway. ## Factual narrative On July 24, 2005, about 1430 Alaska daylight time, a wheel ski-equipped Cessna 185 airplane, N332DG, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over after departing the runway during the landing roll at the Talkeetna Airport, Talkeetna, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area sightseeing flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by Doug Geeting Aviation Inc., Talkeetna. The airline transport certificated pilot, and the two passengers, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a VFR flight plan was filed for the flight that originated from Talkeetna about 1330. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on July 24, the director of operations for the operator reported that the pilot was landing on runway 18 at the conclusion of a sightseeing flight. During the landing roll, the director of operations indicated that the airplane departed off the right side of the runway, initially went nose down, and then nosed over. He also said that there were thunderstorms in the general area, and a gust of wind from the right may have caused the airplane to veer off the runway. The airplane received structural damage to the vertical stabilizer, the right wing, and the left wing lift strut. At 1353, an Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) at Talkeetna was reporting in part: Wind, 170 degrees (true) at 5 knots; visibility, 10 statute miles; clouds and sky condition, clear; temperature, 70 degrees F; dew point, 46 degrees F; altimeter, 30.08 inHg. At 1453, a METAR at Talkeetna was reporting, in part, variable wind conditions at 3 knots. In the Pilot/Operator Aviation Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1) submitted by the pilot, the pilot reported that as he began his landing approach, he received weather information on his airplane radio that was provided by the automated terminal information system (ATIS). According to the pilot, the ATIS was reporting wind conditions as 170 degrees (magnetic) at 8 knots and gusts. He said that while on approach to land, there was a 30 degree right crosswind with gusty wind conditions, and during the landing roll, a gust of wind lifted the right wing, and the airplane became airborne. He attempted to maintain control of the airplane by application of engine power and rudder, but once the airplane touched down again, it headed toward the right side of the runway. The pilot reduced power and applied the brakes. The airplane nosed over off the right side of the runway. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N332DG](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N332DG), registered now, S/N 18503043, 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: 18503043 - Airframe hours: 6052 - Engines: Continental IO-520F 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Registered owner: Doug Geeting Aviation Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 1, 2005, 50 hours before - Departed: PATK, Talkeetna, AK - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: PATK, Talkeetna, runway 18, 3,500 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 29; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial, flight engineer, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 1, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 3,168 total, 68 in this make and model, 2,807 as pilot in command, 83 in the last 90 days, 51 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: PATK ## 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 20050724017359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050724017359A), Jul 24, 2005: Cessna A185F, Talkeetna, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) According to the pilot, after landing on runway 18, a gust of wind caught the right wing and flipped the aircraft upside down. 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.