# NTSB ANC96LA107: Cessna 185, N70018, Talkeetna, AK, July 28, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 28, 1996, 14:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Talkeetna, AK - Coordinates: 62.449005, -149.790542 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.4490&lon=-149.7905&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor, 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 23, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2864 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC96LA107 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2864/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC96LA107 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight planning for departure and his selection of unsuitable terrain. Factors in the accident were soft, snow covered terrain and the pilot's delay in aborting the takeoff. ## 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 - aborted - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor) - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) - abort - delayed, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis The takeoff area was on a mountain glacier at 5,700 feet mean sea level, and was about 2,500 feet long and sloped downhill. The snow condition was wet and dense. The pilot reported that the engine was producing full power during the downslope takeoff. When the pilot began to lift off, the engine momentarily lost power and surged about 3 times from full power to almost no power. The pilot turned on the fuel boost pump, but full power was not restored. The airplane settled onto snow covered terrain and then collided with the edge of a crevasse. A national park ranger reported that the ski tracks produced by the accident airplane extended approximately 4,000 feet along the surface of the snow before leaving the surface at the edge of a crevasse. About 50 yards beyond the crevasse, additional ski tracks were noted skipping on the snow surface until the point of rest at the accident crevasse. An FAA inspector conducted an examination of the accident airplane's engine and fuel system. He reported that the engine ran normally with no observed discrepancies. ## Factual narrative On July 28, 1996, about 1430 Alaska daylight time, a wheel/ski equipped Cessna 185, N70018, crashed during takeoff from the Ruth Glacier, about 42 miles northwest of Talkeetna, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area sightseeing flight under Title 14 CFR Part 135 when the accident occurred. The airplane, registered to and operated by Talkeetna Air Taxi Inc., Talkeetna, Alaska, was destroyed. The certificated airline transport pilot and three passengers were not injured. Two passengers received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A VFR flight plan was filed. The operator reported the pilot landed the airplane with 5 tourists aboard in an upslope direction on the glacier near the Sheldon mountain house. The landing area was located at 5,700 feet mean sea level. The landing area was about 2,500 feet long and sloped downhill about 100 feet. The pilot reported during a downhill takeoff, the engine was producing full power and the airplane became airborne at 65 MPH. The engine momentarily lost power and surged about 3 times from full power to almost no power. The pilot turned on the fuel boost pump, but full power was not restored. The airplane settled onto snow covered terrain and then collided with the edge of a crevasse. The total flight lasted about 30 seconds. The airplane received damage to the landing gear, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot reported the snow was wet and dense and he sank into the snow 8 to 12 inches while walking. The accident occurred in the Denali National Park. A national park ranger reported he interviewed two employees of an air taxi operator who visited the accident site on August 7, 1996, to retrieve additional wreckage. The employees reported they walked along the ski tracks produced by the accident airplane. The tracks were reported to have extended approximately 4,000 feet along the surface of the snow before leaving the surface at the edge of a crevasse. About 50 yards beyond the crevasse, additional ski tracks were noted skipping on the snow surface until the point of rest at the accident crevasse. The employees provided a similar statement to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector. On August 2, 1996, an FAA airworthiness inspector conducted an examination of the accident airplane's engine and fuel system. No discrepancies were noted. On August 8, 1996, the inspector conducted another examination in which the airplane fuselage was strapped to a trailer and the engine was started. He reported the engine ran normally with no observed discrepancies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N70018](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N70018-2013-07-09), registration cancelled 2013-07-09, S/N 18501893, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 185 - Registry model: [Cessna A185E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185e) (registry code 2072818) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18501893 - Airframe hours: 5729 - Engines: Continental IO-520-D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Part 135 - Registered owner: Talkeetna Air Taxi Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Unknown, July 13, 1996, 30 hours before - Destination: TKN, TALKEETNA, AK - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; airline transport, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 10,000 total, 2,500 in this make and model, 1,000 as pilot in command, 182 in the last 90 days, 66 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 8,500 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 19960728020039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960728020039A), Jul 28, 1996: Cessna A185E, Talkeetna, AK, Destroyed. Lost power on takeoff from glacier. Settled. Struck a crevasse. Reported engine surged. No engine defects found. ## Other investigations on N70018 (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 ANC87FA084](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC87FA084), Jun 28, 1987: Cessna 185 (N70018), Anchorage, AK, substantial damage - [NTSB ANC85LA007](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC85LA007), Oct 20, 1984: Cessna A185E (N70018), Shulin Lake, AK, substantial damage - [NTSB ANC78DAG99](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC78DAG99), Jun 26, 1978: Cessna 185 (N70018), Naknek, 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.