# NTSB ANC98LA134: Cessna 185E, N333DG, Talkeetna, AK, September 1, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 31, 1998, 17:50 local (Sep 1, 1998, 01:50 UTC) - Place: Talkeetna, AK - Coordinates: 62.450687, -149.790267 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.4507&lon=-149.7903&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 5 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 30, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 43876 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC98LA134 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43876/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA134 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control resulting in a inadvertent ground loop. A contributing factor was the induced pressure on the pilot by a sick passenger. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - pressure induced by conditions/events, pilot in command (contributing factor) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command ## Analysis The 23 year old commercial pilot was landing a tailwheel equipped airplane on a gravel runway. The pilot stated that the touchdown and the landing roll were uneventful, until the airplane's nose veered slightly to the right. He said he compensated by applying left rudder, but the airplane suddenly ground looped to the right. The left wing and left elevator collided with the runway during the ground loop, and both sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that during the ground loop, the left wheel casting separated. In the NTSB Pilot/Operator report, the Chief Pilot stated that the flight was returning to Talkeetna earlier than scheduled with a sick passenger aboard. He said that the pilot intended to land in the gravel area just short of the paved runway, eliminating the need to back taxi, and allowing the sick passenger to exit the airplane sooner. The operator reported that during touchdown, the pilot landed sideways, and the left wheel casting separated. Wind conditions at the time of the accident were reported to be calm. ## Factual narrative On August 31, 1998, about 1750 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Cessna 185E airplane, N333DG, sustained substantial damage while landing at the Talkeetna Airport, Talkeetna, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area flightseeing flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. The certificated commercial pilot, and the four passengers aboard, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a company flight plan was filed. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge, on August 31, the pilot reported that he had just landed on runway 18. The pilot stated that the touchdown and the landing roll were uneventful, until the airplane's nose veered slightly to the right. He said he compensated by applying left rudder, but the airplane suddenly ground looped to the right. The left wing and left elevator collided with the runway during the ground loop, and both sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that during the ground loop, the left wheel casting separated, and was found about 20 feet behind the accident site. In the NTSB Pilot/Operator report, the Chief Pilot reported that the flight was returning to Talkeetna earlier than scheduled due to a sick passenger aboard. He said that the pilot intended to land in the gravel area just short of the paved runway, eliminating the need to back taxi, and allow the sick passenger exit the airplane sooner. He reported that during touchdown, the pilot landed sideways, and the left wheel casting separated. Wind conditions at the time of the accident were reported to be calm. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N333DG](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N333DG), registered now, S/N 18503234, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 185E - Registry model: [Cessna A185F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185f) (registry code 2072821) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520-D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-d) (registry code 17236, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18503234 - Airframe hours: 5073 - Engines: Continental IO-520-D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Registered owner: Doug Geeting Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 18, 1998, 88 hours before - Departed: TKA - Destination: TKA - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: TKA, Talkeetna, runway 18, 3,500 × 75 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 23; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 755 total, 200 in this make and model, 500 as pilot in command, 170 in the last 90 days, 91 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: TKA ## 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 19980831029939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980831029939A), Aug 31, 1998: Cessna A185F, Talkeetna, AK, Substantial damage. (.19)On August 31, 1998, about 1750 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Cessna 185E airplane, N333DG, sustained substantial damage while landing at the… ## Other investigations on N333DG (2) 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 ANC02LA050](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC02LA050), Jun 15, 2002: Cessna 185F (N333DG), Talkeetna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: A fracture failure of the lower end of the spring steel landing gear strut. Factors contributing to the accident were the manufacturer's and the FAA's insufficient standards/requirements for… - [NTSB ANC93LA079](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC93LA079), May 31, 1993: Cessna A185F (N333DG), Kahiltna Glacie, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND NOT MAINTAINING DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. A FACTOR IS THE ROUGH CONDITION OF THE GLACIER AIRSTRIP. 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.