# NTSB ANC97LA110: Cessna 185, N9855X, Talkeetna, AK, July 23, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 23, 1997, 14:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Talkeetna, AK - Coordinates: 62.449302, -149.789321 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.4493&lon=-149.7893&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 10, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 3033 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC97LA110 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3033/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97LA110 ## Probable cause The pilots failure to maintain terrain clearance during the downslope, downwind, high altitude, takeoff. Factors were the snow and lighting conditions, and the tailwind takeoff. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - terrain condition - downhill - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly - terrain condition - snow covered - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - weather condition - whiteout (contributing factor) - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot made a steep downslope, downwind, departure from a 1,000-foot-long packed snow strip at 9,500 feet msl. The departure path was down a steep canyon. The lighting was flat, with no contrast available to see the snow covered terrain. The airplane impacted rising terrain shortly after takeoff. ## Factual narrative On July 23, 1997, at 1400 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 185 ski equipped airplane, N9855X, sustained substantial damage when it impacted terrain during takeoff from the 9,500 foot msl level of the Kahiltna Glacier, Alaska, at position 63-03.4 north latitude, 151-11.0 west longitude. The commercial certificated pilot and three passengers were uninjured. The airplane was operated by Hudson Air Service, Inc., of Talkeetna, Alaska. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 135 in visual meteorological conditions, as an on demand air taxi. A company VFR flight plan was filed. The pilot stated that he departed downhill from the 1,000 foot long by 50 foot wide snow strip, with a 10-15 knot down-glacier wind. The pilot said that just after becoming airborne, the airplane contacted rising terrain on the canyon side, and came to rest at 8,400 feet msl. He described the lighting conditions as "flat," and as he was unable to distinguish the ground's snowy surface, he was using the surrounding ridges for visual reference. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9855X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9855X), registered now, S/N 1850055, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 185 - Registry model: [Cessna 185](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-185) (registry code 2072802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1850055 - Airframe hours: 10050 - Engines: Continental IO-520-D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Hudson Air Service, Inc., doing business as Hudson Air Service, Inc. - Registered owner: Cliff L. Hudson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, July 22, 1997, 1 hours before - Departed: KAHILTNA GLACER, AK - Destination: TKA, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: Kahiltna Glacier Strip ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,450 total, 955 in this make and model, 3,420 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 10 knots - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Temperature: 25 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg ## 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 19970723019519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970723019519A), Jul 23, 1997: Cessna 185, Talkeetna, AK, Substantial damage. Crashed on takeoff. (.19) on July 23, 1997, at 1400 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 185 ski equipped airplane, N9855X, sustained substantial damage when it… ## Other investigations on N9855X (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 ANC23LA059](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23LA059), Aug 4, 2023: Cessna 185 (N9855X), Iliamna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The passenger’s inadvertent application of brakes during landing that resulted in a nose over. - [NTSB ANC98LA067](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA067), Jun 9, 1998: Cessna 185 (N9855X), Chickaloon, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadvertent activation of the fuel boost pump selector switch during final approach, which resulted in an overly rich mixture and subsequent loss of engine power. - [NTSB ANC80DA074](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC80DA074), Jul 18, 1980: Cessna 185 (N9855X), Collinsville, 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.