# NTSB ANC95LA059: Cessna 185, N1047F, Talkeetna, AK, May 26, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 25, 1995, 18:48 local (May 26, 1995, 02:48 UTC) - Place: Talkeetna, AK - Coordinates: 62.450523, -149.790939 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.4505&lon=-149.7909&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 3 minor - Status: Completed, report September 24, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2652 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC95LA059 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2652/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC95LA059 ## Probable cause THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO IDENTIFY UNSAFE SNOW CONDITIONS AT THE SITE. A FACTOR ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACCIDENT IS THE SOFT SNOW IN THE TAKEOFF AREA. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - snow covered (contributing factor) - unsafe/hazardous condition - not identified, pilot in command (cause) - Nose over, takeoff - roll/run ## Analysis THE PILOT STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE ACCELERATED ON PACKED SNOW, BUT ENCOUNTERED STICKY SNOW AT THE END OF THE LANDING SITE ON THE KAHILTNA GLACIER. THE LEFT SKI CAUGHT IN THE SNOW AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER. HE STATED THAT OTHER AIRPLANES OF THE SAME TYPE AND LOADING WERE TAKING OFF FROM THE SAME LOCATION ALL DAY. HE BELIEVED THE SNOW TURNED STICKY DUE TO TEMPERATURE INCREASE. ## Factual narrative On May 25, 1995, about 1848 hours Alaska daylight time, a wheel/ski equipped Cessna A185F, N1047F, crashed during takeoff from a remote landing site in Denali National Park, about 50 miles northwest of Talkeetna, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country on-demand passenger flight under Title 14 CFR Part 135 when the accident occurred. The airplane, operated by Doug Geeting Aviation, Talkeetna, Alaska, received substantial damage. The certificated commercial pilot and two passengers received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A VFR flight plan was filed. The takeoff was the beginning of the return portion of the flight that departed Talkeetna about 1715. The National Park Service reported that the flight was departing a landing site located at the 7,000 feet level of the Kahiltna Glacier. The purpose of the flight was to transport climbers from the Mount McKinley base camp. The airplane was departing downhill from an area that had been packed down by other aircraft. Recent heavy snows had deposited about 6 feet of new snow on the glacier. During the takeoff roll, the accident airplane encountered an area of soft snow and nosed over. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1047F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1047F), registered now, S/N 18502704 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 185 - Registry model: [Cessna A185F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185f) (registry code 2072821) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18502704 - Airframe hours: 6000 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Doug Geeting Aviation - Registered owner: Douglas E. Geeting - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 1995, 63 hours before - Destination: TKA, AK - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 3,000 total, 800 in this make and model, 2,800 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 36 °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 19950525012939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950525012939A), May 25, 1995: Cessna A185F, Takkeetna, AK, Substantial damage. Departing high altitude glacier ran into area of soft snow. Nosed over. Aircraft was wheel ski equipped. ## Other investigations on N1047F (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 ANC92FA069](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC92FA069), May 9, 1992: Cessna 185 (N1047F), Ruth Glacier, AK, minor damage. 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… - [NTSB ANC89LA081](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC89LA081), May 29, 1989: Cessna 185F (N1047F), Kahiltna Glac, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S DECISION TO COMMIT HIMSELF TO A LANDING BEFORE COMPLETING AN EVALUATION OF THE WEATHER IN THE VICINITY OF THE LANDING SITE. CONTRIBUTING TO THE SEVERITY OF THE ACCIDENT WAS THE SNOWBANK… - [NTSB ANC84FA094](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC84FA094), Jun 17, 1984: Cessna A185F (N1047F), Talkeetna, 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.