- Date
- August 12, 2009, 08:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place
- Talkeetna, AK
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N6687SCessna 150H
- Defining event
- Landing: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 29, 2009
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration (Airworthiness)
- FAA report
- 20090812048669A
- Case key
- 74509
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing, resulting in a ground loop and substantial damage to the airplane.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The solo private pilot reported that he was landing a tailwheel-equipped airplane on a dry, hard-surfaced runway, at the completion of a Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. He said that during touchdown, the airplane bounced slightly and he added engine power to cushion the landing. As the airplane touched down again, it ground looped to the left. The airplane’s right wing and right elevator struck the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing, right elevator and fuselage. The pilot said there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane.
Factual narrative
The solo private pilot reported he was landing a tailwheel-equipped airplane on a dry, hard-surfaced runway, at the completion of a Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. He said that during touchdown, the airplane bounced slightly and he added engine power to cushion the landing. As the airplane touched down again, it ground looped to the left. The airplane’s right wing and right elevator struck the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing, right elevator and fuselage. The pilot said there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6687S
- Reported as
- Cessna 150H
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15067487
- Engine
- Cont Motor O-200 SERIES, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Joseph A. Garner
- Registered owner
- Joseph A. Garner
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 13, 2009
- Departed
- 4AK6 · Palmer, AK
- Destination
- TKA · Talkeetna, AK
- Airport
- TKA · Talkeetna, runway 18, 3,500 × 75 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 32
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 80 total · 8 in this make and model · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 50 °F
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 25, 2009, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 608 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.