# NTSB ANC94LA118: Cessna 150J, N61272, Talkeentna, AK, August 22, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 22, 1994, 13:16 local (21:16 UTC) - Place: Talkeentna, AK - Coordinates: 62.451, -149.789413 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.4510&lon=-149.7894&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 9, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2550 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC94LA118 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2550/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC94LA118 ## Probable cause THE UNSUITABLE TAKEOFF AREA SELECTED. A FACTOR WAS THE SOFT SPOT IN THE AIRSTRIP'S SURFACE. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Nose down, takeoff - roll/run - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO TAKE OFF ON A 950 FOOT GRAVEL AIRSTRIP. HE ABORTED HIS TAKE OFF APPROXIMATELY HALFWAY DOWN THE AIRSTRIP. DURING THE ABORTED TAKE OFF ROLL, THE NOSE WHEEL HIT A SOFT SPOT ON THE AIRSTRIP AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED DOWN. ## Factual narrative On August 22, 1994, at 1316 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Cessna 150J airplane, N61272, registered to David Drews of Palmer, Alaska, and operated by Daniel Kurtz, the pilot, also of Palmer, struck a soft spot on the runway during takeoff and nosed down on a gravel airstrip located below the Kahiltna Glacier, near Talkeetna, Alaska. The personal flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, was departing the gravel strip and the destination was Palmer. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot and his passenger were not injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. According to a passenger, who was waiting to be flown out next, the airplane started the take off and the nose wheel hit a soft, sandy spot. The pilot aborted the take off, the nose gear collapsed, and the airplane nosed down. According to the pilot's statement, the take off was aborted when he lost lift approximately 450 feet down the 950 foot long runway. During the aborted take off roll the nose wheel hit a soft spot and collapsed. The airplane was equipped with an O-320-E2A engine capable of producing 150 horsepower. The airplane records showed a Supplemental Type Certificate, however, there were no new performance figures or charts to show if there was any change in performance. According to the airplane owner's manual, at a gross weight condition, the interpolated take off distance for the conditions described by the pilot was 820 feet at a minimum. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N61272](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N61272-2005-02-17), registration cancelled 2005-02-17, S/N 15070933, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150J - Registry model: [Cessna 150J](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150j) (registry code 2071820) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15070933 - Airframe hours: 3608 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2A 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Kurtz, Daniel M. - Registered owner: Drews, David E. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 19, 1994, 8 hours before - Destination: PAQ, PALMER, AK - Airport: runway 18, 950 × 15 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 148 total, 96 in this make and model, 66 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 10 knots - Visibility: 40 statute miles - Temperature: 61 °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 19940822022629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940822022629A), Aug 22, 1994: Cessna 150J, Kahiltna Glacie, AK, Substantial damage. Nose wheel hit soft spot during gravel bar takeoff. Nose gear collapsed. Nosed into gravel. ## Other investigations on N61272 (3) 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 ANC92LA103](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC92LA103), Jul 13, 1992: Cessna 150 (N61272), Palmer, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S INADVERTENT STALLING OF THE AIRPLANE AND AN INADEQUATE ALTITUDE IN WHICH HE COULD RECOVER. FACTOR RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE WATER IN THE FUEL. - [NTSB ANC90FA046](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC90FA046), Mar 29, 1990: Cessna 150 (N61272), Birchwood, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: CARBURETOR ICE DUE TO THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF THE CARBURETOR HEAT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS, UNFAVORABLE WIND, AND THE SNOW COVERED TERRAIN. - [NTSB ANC75DAD05](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC75DAD05), May 15, 1975: Cessna 150J (N61272), Juneau, AK, substantial damage 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.