# NTSB ANC98LA066: Cessna 188B, N9247G, Talkeetna, AK, June 8, 1998

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 8, 1998, 11:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place: Talkeetna, AK
- Coordinates: 62.449291, -149.790649 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.4493&lon=-149.7906&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 17, 1999
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 3152
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC98LA066
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3152/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA066

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to identify an unsafe/hazardous taxiway condition.  A factor associated with this accident was the presence of rough and uneven terrain conditions.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, taxi - to takeoff
  - unsafe/hazardous condition - not identified, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)
- Gear collapsed, taxi

## Analysis

The pilot had unloaded his cargo of fuel oil, and was preparing to depart the remote airstrip.  While back taxiing prior to departure, the airplane's left main wheel hit a hole in the center of the airstrip.  The airplane's tail veered to the right, and the left main gear leg collapsed. The left wing struck the runway and sustained substantial damage.  The pilot said there were no preimpact mechanical difficulties with the airplane.

## Factual narrative

On June 8, 1998 about 1100 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Cessna 188B airplane, N9247G, sustained substantial damage while taxiing at a remote airstrip, about 45 miles northwest of Talkeetna, Alaska.  The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) business flight under Title 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred.  The solo commercial pilot was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and VFR company flight following procedures were in effect.  The flight originated at the Willow Airport, Willow, Alaska, about 1030.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on June 8, the pilot reported that he had unloaded his cargo of fuel oil, and was preparing to depart.  While back taxiing to the west prior to departure, the airplane's left main wheel hit a hole in the center of the airstrip.  The airplane's tail veered to the right, and the left main gear leg collapsed.  The left wing struck the runway and sustained substantial damage.

The pilot indicated there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9247G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9247G-2018-01-29), registration cancelled 2018-01-29, S/N 18801435T, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 188B
- Registry model: [Cessna A188B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a188b) (registry code 2073005) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18801435T
- Airframe hours: 4200
- Engines: Continental IO-520-D23 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Neil Burlson
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, December 15, 1997, 200 hours before
- Departed: UUO, WILLOW, AK
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: Chelatna Airstrip, runway 9, 1,800 × 50 ft, gravel

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 3,900 total, 95 in this make and model, 3,820 as pilot in command, 160 in the last 90 days, 52 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Temperature: 55 °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 19980608015559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980608015559A), Jun 8, 1998: Cessna A188B, Talkeetna, AK, Substantial damage. Left main wheel hit hole in airstrip collapsing left main gear leg. Left wing struck runway. (.4)the certificated commercail pilot had unloaded his cargo of…

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.