# NTSB ANC98LA047: Cessna A185F, N1473F, Talkeetna, AK, May 16, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 16, 1998, 15:50 local (23:50 UTC) - Place: Talkeetna, AK - Coordinates: 62.449516, -149.789672 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.4495&lon=-149.7897&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 17, 1999 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 3137 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC98LA047 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3137/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA047 ## Probable cause The pilot selected the wrong runway and intentionally ground looped to stop the airplane. Related factors were the tailwind and whiteout conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, landing - roll - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - weather condition - whiteout (contributing factor) - wrong runway - selected, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - snow covered - ground loop/swerve - intentional, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot and witnesses described the airplane touching down with a 20 knot tailwind on the last 25 percent of the approximately 600 feet long, packed snow, landing area. The pilot said that on short final he recognized the tailwind, but because of terrain there was not maneuvering room to attempt a go around. The airplane bounced, and overran the landing area. The pilot said he lost forward visibility in whiteout conditions, and intentionally ground looped the airplane to stop. ## Factual narrative On May 16, 1998, at 1550 Alaska daylight time, a wheel/ski equipped Cessna A185F, N1473F, sustained substantial damage during landing on the Kahiltna Glacier, 47 miles west-northwest of Talkeetna, Alaska. The commercial pilot and two passengers were not injured. The remaining passenger sustained minor injuries. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 135 as an on-demand air taxi, transporting three mountain climbers to the 7,200 feet msl seasonal base camp for Mount McKinley. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and a VFR flight plan was filed. The passengers stated during an interview with the NTSB Investigator-In-Charge (IIC) that a broken fog layer was located on the approach end of the landing area. The passengers indicated the airplane touched down beyond the fog bank, bounced twice, banked left, and the left wing contacted the snow. A private pilot witness estimated there was a 20 knot tailwind. He described the airplane making a fast, steep approach, and touching down beyond the spot where other airplanes were landing. He said the airplane bounced twice, and then dragged the left wing. The pilot told the NTSB IIC in an interview and wrote in his Pilot/Operator Report that he was landing over a fog layer, and that on final approach at 300 feet agl, he recognized there was an upslope tailwind. He stated there was not sufficient room to do a go around, and that he was committed to land. The pilot described touching down on the last 25% of the prepared landing area, bouncing into the air, and experiencing a whiteout condition when looking into the combination of clouds and snow. Unsure of what was in front of the airplane, he intentionally applied full left rudder and aileron to ground loop the airplane and stop. The airplane came to rest about 300 feet beyond the end of the packed down area, in deep snow. The landing area consists of about 300 feet of soft snow where pilots attempt to touch down and decelerate, and 300 feet of packed snow which is used for stopping and taxiing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1473F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1473F), registered now, S/N 18502851 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna A185F - 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: 18502851 - Airframe hours: 4190 - Engines: Continental IO-520D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Registered owner: Douglas E. Geeting - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 3, 1997, 50 hours before - Departed: TKA, AK - Destination: KAHILTNA GLACIE, AK - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 8,000 total, 500 in this make and model, 7,800 as pilot in command, 70 in the last 90 days, 48 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 20 knots - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 500 ft broken - 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 19980516009449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980516009449A), May 16, 1998: Cessna A185F, Talkeetna, AK, Substantial damage. (.4)The pilot and witnesses described the airplane touching down with a 20 knot tailwind on the last 25% of the approximatley 600 feet long, packed snow,… 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.