# NTSB ANC09LA034: Cessna 152, N46326, Talkeetna, AK, April 17, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 16, 2009, 17:30 local (Apr 17, 2009, 01:30 UTC) - Place: Talkeetna, AK - Coordinates: 62.968334, -151.168884 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.9683&lon=-151.1689&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 28, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 73674 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC09LA034 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73674/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73674 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC09LA034 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed to avoid an aerodynamic stall while maneuvering at a high density altitude. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause) - [Temp/humidity/pressure: high density altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause) ## Analysis The private pilot said that he was on a personal local flight when he made a low pass about 100 feet over a camp on a glacier, at about 7,200 feet elevation. He made the pass with full flaps, with approximately 65 knots of airspeed. When he retracted the flaps, he said that the airplane descended uncontrolled into the snow, despite the full application of power. The pilot indicated that there were no known mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage during impact. ## Factual narrative On April 16, 2009, about 1730 Alaska daylight time, a ski-equipped Cessna 152 airplane, N46326, sustained substantial damage during an uncontrolled descent and impact with terrain, about 60 miles west-northwest of Talkeetna, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules personal local flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The private pilot and sole passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on April 17, the pilot said he made a low pass, about 100 feet above the ground, over the mountain climber's base camp on Mt. McKinley, on the Kahiltna Glacier, elevation about 7,200 feet. He said he made the pass with full flaps, about 65 knots of airspeed, and when he retracted the flaps, the airplane descended into the snow. He said with full power he was unable to arrest the descent. The pilot said there were no known mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident, and that the airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage during the impact. ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N46326](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N46326-2012-01-21), registration cancelled 2012-01-21, S/N 15283031, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 152 - Registry model: [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (registry code 2071835) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15283031 - Airframe hours: 2759 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235 SERIES 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Bouvrie Lukas J - Registered owner: Bouvrie Lukas J - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2008 - Departed: Eagle river, AK - Destination: Eagle river, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 28; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 13, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 187 total, 131 in this make and model, 113 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: TKA, 60 nm away ## 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 20090416025159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090416025159A), Apr 16, 2009: Cessna 152, Talkeetna, AK, Substantial damage. According to the pilot, the weather was good and the winds were calm. The pilot was sightseeing and flew up the kahiltna glacier. He was maneuvering the… ## Other investigations on N46326 (2) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB ANC01LA086](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC01LA086), Jul 16, 2001: Cessna 152 (N46326), Haines, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll. Factors associated with the accident are the pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for takeoff, and a rough/uneven… - [NTSB LAX90LA328](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX90LA328), Sep 21, 1990: Cessna 152 (N46326), Hayward, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE FAILURE OF THE AIRPLANE'S MAIN LANDING GEAR BOLT/NUT PLATE ATTACHMENT ASSEMBLY. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS RELATED TO THE IMPROPER INSTALLATION (THREADING) OF THE GEAR BOLT/NUT ASSEMBLY. ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 1, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73674. 722 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 722 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40314057&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; 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.