Talkeetna Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Talkeetna, Alaska 99676
Friday, May 2, 1997 15:54 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot was departing in a tailwheel equipped airplane on runway 36. He reported that during the takeoff roll, there was a left crosswind that varied from a headwind to a tailwind, and the tail of the airplane began to swing to the right. The airplane ground looped to the left, and ran off the left edge of the runway. The right main landing gear strut collapsed, and the right wing struck the ground. The airplane came to rest partially up on its nose and received damage to the right landing gear attach point, the right wing, and propeller. At 1550, an Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) at Talkeetna reported the wind was from 245 degrees at 10 kts.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions and failure to maintain directional control of the airplane. A factor associated with the accident was: the variable crosswind condition.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/2/1997
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1554
Event Time Zone --
Event City TALKEETNA
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99676
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport TALKEETNA
Event Location Nearest Airport ID TKA
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 358
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1550 Atlantic Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID TKA
Elevation of weather observation facility 358
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation ADT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 20000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 60
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 245
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 921
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 2 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1627
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:16PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N74806
NTSB Number ANC97LA066
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 180
Aircraft Series Identifier 180
Aircraft Serial Number 50335
Certified Max Gross Weight 2650
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Dec 18 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 3
Airframe Hours 3571
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GERALD VAN HOOMISSEN
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 72059
Aircraft Owner City FAIRBANKS
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99707
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1554
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 36
Runway Length 3500
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --