# NTSB ANC95LA092: Cessna 185, N555WK, Talkeetna, AK, July 1, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 30, 1995, 16:00 local (Jul 1, 1995, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Talkeetna, AK - Coordinates: 62.449237, -149.790206 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.4492&lon=-149.7902&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 5 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 8, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2677 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC95LA092 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2677/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC95LA092 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE EVALUATION OF THE WEATHER CONDITIONS, AND IMPROPER INFLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION TO ASSURE CLEARANCE FROM MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. A FACTOR RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE UNFAVORABLE/GUSTY WIND CONDITION. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction - terrain condition - high terrain - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - weather evaluation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly ## Analysis THE PILOT STATED THAT AS HE AND FOUR PASSENGERS WERE APPROACHING ANDERSON PASS AT ABOUT 7500' MSL, THEY ENCOUNTERED TURBULENCE. THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO 'SINK' AND HE TURNED TO REVERSE THE DIRECTION OF FLIGHT AND TO EXIT THE PASS. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO DESCEND, AND THE PILOT APPLIED FULL FLAPS PRIOR TO IMPACT. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED A GLACIER, WHILE TRAVELING DOWNHILL. THE WHEEL/SKIS SEPARATED FROM THE LANDING GEAR, AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER AT ABOUT THE 6500' LEVEL. THE PILOT STATED THAT WHILE WAITING TO BE RESCUED, THE WIND WOULD GUST FROM ALL DIRECTIONS, AND IT WOULD BLOW PIECES OF THE AIRPLANE WRECKAGE UPHILL. ## Factual narrative On June 30, 1995, at 1600 Alaska daylight time, a wheel/ski equipped Cessna 185 airplane, N555WK, registered to and operated by Talkeetna Air Taxi of Talkeetna, Alaska, crashed at the 6,500 foot level of a glacier near Anderson Pass. The on demand air taxi flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 135, departed Talkeetna for a flight around Mt. McKinley. A company flight plan was in effect and visual meteorological conditions prevailed for class G airspace. The airline transport certificated pilot and the four passengers were not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. During a telephone interview with the pilot, he stated that he was approaching Anderson Pass at 7,500 feet with an indicated airspeed of 110 knots. Once near the pass, the airplane encountered turbulence and it began to "sink." The pilot applied full power and began a left turn to reverse direction and exit the pass. The airplane continued to "sink" during the turn. The pilot applied full flaps but the descent did not stop. The airplane crashed on a glacier while traveling downhill. The airplane's skis separated from the landing gear and the airplane nosed over. The pilot stated that while he was awaiting rescue the wind would gust from every direction and would blow pieces of the airplane wreckage uphill. According to the information provided by the pilot on the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, he did not receive a weather briefing from a Flight Service Station. He stated that the weather on the Talkeetna side of Mt. McKinley was such that the mountain was not visible. He flew to Anderson Pass because the ceilings were higher. ## Aircraft - Registration: N555WK (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 185 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18503102 - Airframe hours: 3063 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Registered owner: Talkeetna Air Taxi - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 3, 1995, 95 hours before - Departed: TKA, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; commercial, flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 10,000 total, 2,300 in this make and model, 10,000 as pilot in command, 160 in the last 90 days, 98 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 30 knots, gusting 60 - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 39 °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 19950630015819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950630015819A), Jun 30, 1995: Cessna A185F, Talkeetna, AK, Substantial damage. Caught in downdraft trying to negotiate a pass. Uncontrolled sink in turn around. Impact on glacier. Severe winds. 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.