# NTSB ANC93LA079: Cessna A185F, N333DG, Kahiltna Glacie, AK, May 31, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 31, 1993, 10:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Kahiltna Glacie, AK - Coordinates: 62.44939, -149.79042 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.4494&lon=-149.7904&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 30, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2351 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC93LA079 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2351/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC93LA079 ## Probable cause THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND NOT MAINTAINING DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. A FACTOR IS THE ROUGH CONDITION OF THE GLACIER AIRSTRIP. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, takeoff - roll/run - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## 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](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N333DG), registered now, S/N 18503234, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA A185F - Registry model: [Cessna A185F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185f) (registry code 2072821) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520-D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-d) (registry code 17236, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18503234 - Airframe hours: 3121 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19930531019829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930531019829A), May 31, 1993: Cessna A185F, Kahiltna Glacie, AK, Substantial damage. Right wing bent upward by contact with glacier on takeoff roll. Conflicting statements. Ground loop or gear failure ## Other investigations on N333DG (2) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB ANC02LA050](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC02LA050), Jun 15, 2002: Cessna 185F (N333DG), Talkeetna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: A fracture failure of the lower end of the spring steel landing gear strut. Factors contributing to the accident were the manufacturer's and the FAA's insufficient standards/requirements for… - [NTSB ANC98LA134](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA134), Sep 1, 1998: Cessna 185E (N333DG), Talkeetna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control resulting in a inadvertent ground loop. A contributing factor was the induced pressure on the pilot by a sick passenger. From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; 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.