- Date
- May 31, 1993, 10:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place
- Kahiltna Glacie, AK
- Injuries
- 4 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N333DGCessna A185F
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 30, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 19930531019829A
- Case key
- 2351
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-in-command not maintaining directional control. A factor is the rough condition of the glacier airstrip.
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
The pilot stated he was repositioning the airplane to another takeoff area. The passenger stated the pilot told them that once they got going there was no stopping. According to one passenger, they started the takeoff run down the slope of the glacier and the airplane made a sharp left 360 degree turn, lined up on the takeoff path again, and continued. The airplane made another sharp left turn and the right wing struck the glacier.
Factual narrative
On May 31, 1993, at 0900 Alaska daylight time, a wheel/ski equipped Cessna A-185F airplane, N333DG, registered to and operated by Doug Geeting Aviation of Talkeetna, Alaska, lost control while moving down slope on the glacier, and bent the left wing upwards. The Air Taxi flight was departing the 7,500 foot level of the Kahiltna Glacier and the destination was Talkeetna. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a company flight plan was in effect. The Airline Transport Certificated Pilot-in- Command and the three passengers were not injured and the airplane was substantially damaged.
According to the Pilot-in-Command, the passengers were on board and the takeoff area was very rutted. He stated he was taxiing to another takeoff area where he planned to get out and walk the area.
According to a passenger, the pilot stated to them that "once he got going there was no stopping." The airplane then started its takeoff roll down the face of the glacier. He stated that the airplane was at full power when it made a sharp left turn. It continued the turn and completed a 360 degree turn and again was traveling down the slope of the glacier. The airplane made another sharp left turn and the right wing struck the surface of the glacier.
According to the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the pilot stated that he was taxiing to another takeoff location when the right ski failed and the airplane's right wing struck the ground. The accident occurred on May 31, 1993, and was reported on June 4, 1993. No parts from the right ski were submitted for examination, and the airplane was examined only after minor repairs had been accomplished. The airplane still showed substantial damage. The toxicological examination results were negative.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N333DG
- Reported as
- Cessna A185F
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18503234
- Airframe hours
- 3,121
- Engine
- Continental IO-520-F, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Fire
- Unknown
- Flight
- Part 135
- Operator
- Doug Geeting Aviation, doing business as Doug Geeting Aviation
- Registered owner
- Doug Geeting
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · May 2, 1993 · 87 hours before
- 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
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 42
- Certificates
- Commercial, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 15,500 total · 1,500 in this make and model · 1,200 as pilot in command · 35 in the last 90 days · 35 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 45 °F
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 N333DG · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.