- Date
- October 21, 2012, 18:15 local (Oct 22, 2012, 02:15 UTC)
- Place
- Talkeetna, AK
- Injuries
- 4 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N1694MCessna A185E
- Defining event
- Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 31, 2013
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- Parties
- FAA Anchorage FSDO
- FAA report
- 20121021023479A
- Case key
- 85442
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 landing, which resulted in a ground loop.
Findings · 3
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
During the approach, the pilot decided to land the tundra-tire-equipped airplane on a sloped, grassy area adjacent to the taxiway because of snow on the area where he initially intended to land. After touchdown, the airplane began to follow the slope, and the pilot applied the uphill brake. The airplane subsequently entered a ground loop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
During the landing approach, the pilot decided to land the tundra-tire equipped airplane on a slopped, grassy area adjacent to the taxiway due to snow on his initially intended landing area. After touchdown, the airplane began to follow the slope, and the pilot applied the uphill brake, which resulted in a ground loop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1694M
- Reported as
- Cessna A185E
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18501879
- Airframe hours
- 8,730
- Engine
- Cont Motor IO 520 SERIES, 285 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
- AAIP · August 24, 2012 · 7 hours before
- Departed
- PATK · Talkeetna, AK
- Destination
- PATK · Talkeetna, AK
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- PATK · Talkeetna Airport, 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
- 68
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land, Multi-engine sea, Single-engine sea
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane, Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- April 20, 2012
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 18,000 total · 1,000 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 200° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 34 °F, dew point 9 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.26 inHg
- Observed at
- PATK
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 30, 2012, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 657 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.
Other investigations on N1694M · 3
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.