- Date
- May 9, 1992, 10:50 local (18:50 UTC)
- Place
- Ruth Glacier, AK
- Injuries
- 10 uninjured
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 17, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA reports
- 19920509013992A19920509013991A
- Case key
- 5642
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 failure of the pilots of both airplanes to maintain an adequate visual lookout. Factors which contributed to the accident was the failure of the pilot of the CE-172 to become aware of and to use the listed frequency for inter aircraft communications, and the reduced visual acuity of the CE-172 against the surrounding terrain
The failure of the pilots of both airplanes to maintain an adequate visual lookout. Factors which contributed to the accident was the failure of the pilot of the CE-172 to become aware of and to use the listed frequency for inter aircraft communications, and the reduced visual acuity of the CE-172 against the surrounding terrain.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
Both airplanes were on sightseeing flights at about 9,200 ft MSL. The pilot of the CE-172, N73813, stated that he was heading aprx northwest, looked at Mt. Mckinley, and as he returned his gaze forward he saw the other airplane ahead and slightly higher before the collision. The pilot of the CE-185, N1047F, stated that she had just finished making a radio transmission indicating her position when some of the pax saw the other airplane; she estimated the other airplane was flying in the opposite direction and slightly lower. The Alaska supplement in effect at the time of the occurrence stated that frequency 122.7 is designated for inter aircraft communications in denali park, the area in which Mt. Mckinley is located. The pilot of the CE-172 was not aware of the frequency. According to the pilot of the CE-185, the CE-172 blended in with the surrounding terrain which consisted of vertical granite walls.
Both airplanes were on sightseeing flights at about 9,200 ft MSL. The pilot of the CE-172, N73813, stated that he was heading aprx northwest, looked at Mt. Mckinley, and as he returned his gaze forward he saw the other airplane ahead and slightly higher before the collision. The pilot of the CE-185, N1047F, stated that she had just finished making a radio transmission indicating her position when some of the pax saw the other airplane; she estimated the other airplane was flying in the opposite direction and slightly lower. The Alaska supplement in effect at the time of the occurrence stated that frequency 122.7 is designated for inter aircraft communications in denali park, the area in which Mt. Mckinley is located. The pilot of the CE-172 was not aware of the frequency. According to the pilot of the CE-185, the CE-172 blended in with the surrounding terrain which consisted of vertical granite walls.
Aircraft · 2
- Registration
- N73813
- Reported as
- Cessna 172
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17267693
- Airframe hours
- 2,584
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A4M, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Usaf Elmendorf Aero Club
- Registered owner
- Usaf Elmendorf Aero Club
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · December 23, 1991 · 96 hours before
- Departed
- EDF · Elmendorf Afb, AK
- Destination
- TKA · Talkeetna, AK
- Flight plan
- VFR
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.
- Registration
- N1047F
- Reported as
- Cessna 185
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1852704
- Airframe hours
- 5,869
- Engine
- Continental IO-520-D, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Part 135
- Operator
- Douglas Geeting Aviation
- Registered owner
- Douglas E. Geeting
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 30, 1992 · 80 hours before
- Departed
- TKA · Talkeetna, AK
- Destination
- TKA · Talkeetna, AK
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
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 · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N73813
- Age
- 26
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 255 total · 88 in this make and model · 254 as pilot in command · 32 in the last 90 days · 12 in the last 30 days
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N1047F
- Age
- 32
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 3,500 total · 700 in this make and model · 3,230 as pilot in command · 15 in the last 90 days · 15 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 65 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 50 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 2
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N73813 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.