- Date
- June 26, 2011, 16:30 local (Jun 27, 2011, 00:30 UTC)
- Place
- Talkeetna, AK
- Injuries
- 8 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N561TADehavilland DHC-2 MK 1
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Abnormal runway contact
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 6, 2011
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- Parties
- FAA ANC FSDO
- FAA report
- 20110626012799A
- Case key
- 81036
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 selection of unsuitable terrain for takeoff.
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 pilot reported that while departing from a snow-covered glacier, in a tailwheel and wheel penetration ski-equipped airplane, the main and tail skis struck a bump just as the airplane became airborne. A postflight inspection revealed substantial damage to the tailwheel bulkhead and fuselage. The pilot indicated there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that while departing from a snow-covered glacier, in a tailwheel and wheel penetration ski-equipped airplane, the main and tail skis struck a bump just as the airplane became airborne. A postflight inspection revealed substantial damage to the tailwheel bulkhead and fuselage. The pilot indicated there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N561TA
- Reported as
- Dehavilland DHC-2 MK 1
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 581
- Airframe hours
- 10,734
- Engine
- Pratt & Whitney 985, 450 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 135
- Operator
- Talkeetna Air Taxi Inc
- Registered owner
- Talkeetna Air Taxi Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · June 29, 2011 · 43 hours before
- Departed
- Talkeetna, AK
- Destination
- PATK · Talkeetna, AK
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 57
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 3,400 total · 1,000 in this make and model · 3,300 as pilot in command · 104 in the last 90 days · 59 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 220° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 25 statute miles
- Temperature
- 39 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.53 inHg
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 10, 2011, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 392 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.