# NTSB ANC95LA017: Cessna 185, N4552F, Takotna, AK, December 12, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 12, 1994, 11:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Takotna, AK - Location: 62.9897° N, 156.0608° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from TAKOTNA (TCT), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.9897&lon=-156.0608&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 29, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2615 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC95LA017 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2615/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC95LA017 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING FOR THE DEPARTURE. A SNOW COVERED RUNWAY, FLAT LIGHTING CONDITIONS, AND A SNOWBANK WERE FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - initial climb - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - snow covered (contributing factor) - light condition - other (contributing factor) - terrain condition - snowbank (contributing factor) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled - object - tree(s) ## Analysis THE PILOT WAS DEPARTING A REMOTE AIRPORT AS A CONTINUING PORTION OF AN ON-DEMAND CHARTER FLIGHT WITH TWO PASSENGERS. THE 1,717 FEET LONG RUNWAY WAS COVERED WITH 4 TO 5 INCHES OF SNOW AND THE PERIMETER OF THE RUNWAY HAD SNOW BANKS ALONG THE EDGES AND ENDS. THE PILOT BEGAN THE TAKEOFF ROLL AND LIFTED OFF ABOUT HALFWAY DOWN THE RUNWAY. FLAT LIGHTING CONDITIONS MADE IT DIFFICULT TO DISTINGUISH THE RUNWAY BOUNDARIES FROM THE SURROUNDING TERRAIN. THE AIRPLANE SETTLED TO THE RUNWAY NEAR THE DEPARTURE END AND STRUCK A 2 FOOT HIGH SNOW BERM AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE THEN DESCENDED TOWARD LOWER TERRAIN OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH SEVERAL TREES. A POST CRASH FIRE CONSUMED THE AIRPLANE. ## Factual narrative On December 12, 1994, about 1130 Alaska standard time, a wheel/ski equipped Cessna model 185 airplane, N4552F, operated by Woods Air Service, Inc. collided with terrain during takeoff from runway 24 at Takotna, Alaska. The commercial certificated pilot received minor injuries, one passenger received serious injuries, and the remaining passenger was not injured. The airplane was destroyed by the impact with the terrain and a postcrash fire. The 14 CFR Part 135 on-demand flight was en route to Nikolai, Alaska when the accident occurred. VFR conditions reportedly prevailed in the area at the time of the mishap and a round robin flight plan from McGrath, Alaska was on file with the Kenai Automated Flight Service Station (AFSS) with intermediate stops at Takotna, Nikolai and Telida, Alaska. On the afternoon of December 13, 1994, the NTSB investigator-in-charge conducted a telephone interview with the pilot of N4552F. The pilot said that he departed McGrath at approximately 0942 and performed a wheel landing on runway 060 at Takotna about 15 minutes later and parked the airplane on the designated ramp area. He said that with the large amount of snow the area had received this year, he was mindful of the snow berms along the sides and the ends of the runways at the airports in the area but did not consciously pay any attention to the snow berm as he flew over the approach end of runway 060. The four to five inches of fresh unpacked snow on the ground prevented him from turning the airplane under power in the ramp area. He shut the airplane down and physically lifted the tail of the airplane and turned it toward the runway. He boarded two passengers and there was also about 170 pounds of cargo on board the plane, which included the survival gear. He lined the airplane up between the left and right side cones at the end of runway 24. Due to the flat light condition, it was difficult to distinguish the runway boundaries with the surrounding terrain. He began the wheel takeoff from the ramp area, which he said meant that there was about 300 feet of runway that he did not use. The takeoff was performed with two notches of flap, and the wind was calm. He experienced no problems with the airplane during the takeoff. He felt the airplane became airborne from one half to two thirds down the runway and that the plane was in a climbing attitude when it collided with what he believed to be a snow berm just beyond the end of the runway. The plane pitched forward and descended into trees about 1,000 feet beyond the end of the runway. Shortly after the aircraft came to a stop in a nose down tail high attitude against the ground, the top of the plane caught fire. Based upon his post accident observation of the snow berm at the end of runway 24, he estimated the height of the berm to be from three to four feet. Witnesses at the airport reported that at the time of the accident, the conspicuity between the runway and the surrounding terrain was poor due to the flat light condition and that the runway had four to six inches of new unpacked snow. Airport maintenance personnel reported that the runway was last plowed on December 11, 1994, and that the snow berms on either end of the runway on the day of the accident were about two feet high. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4552F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4552F-1996-03-02), registration cancelled 1996-03-02, S/N 1851052 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 185 - Registry model: [Cessna A185E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185e) (registry code 2072818) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1851052 - Airframe hours: 6431 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Part 135 - Registered owner: Woods Air Service Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 5, 1994, 5 hours before - Destination: MCG, MCGRATH, AK - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: TCT, Takotna, runway 24, 1,717 × 65 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 5,200 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 60 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 6 knots - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,700 ft broken - Temperature: 10 °F, dew point 7 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: MCG, 13 nm away ## 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 19941212041499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941212041499A), Dec 12, 1994: Cessna A185E, Takotna, AK, Destroyed. Struck snowbank on takeoff at end of runway. Nosed into trees. Flat light near gross and unplowed runway factors. ## Other investigations on N4552F (1) 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 MIA67D0180](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA67D0180), Jul 25, 1966: Cessna 185E (N4552F), Moncks Corner, SC, 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.