Talkeetna Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Talkeetna, Alaska 99676
Tuesady, February 5, 2002 19:30 AST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot and a passenger were departing a rural airport on a dark winter night. The airplane was operating at or near its maximum gross weight. The pilot said the airplane accelerated and took off normally, but didn't seem to want to climb. He said he didn't look at the engine tachometer, but the engine "note" sounded lower than normal. He turned immediately after departure to follow lower terrain, and to avoid trees. He inadvertently turned towards rising terrain, and collided with trees. The passenger said he helped the pilot load the airplane, and noted that significant amounts of ice and frost remained on the airframe prior to takeoff. The passenger said the engine seemed to be running fine until they collided with trees.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to remove sufficient ice/frost from the airplane prior to flight, and his failure to maintain adequate clearance from trees and terrain. A factor associated with the accident is the reduced climb capability of the airplane due to the existence of frost/ice on the airframe.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/5/2002
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1930
Event Time Zone Atlantic Standard Time
Event City Talkeetna
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99676
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 621923N
Event Location Longitude 1500600W
Event Location Airport Talkeetna
Event Location Nearest Airport ID TKA
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 180
Airport Elevation 358
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1924 Atlantic Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 360
Weather Observation Facility ID patk
Elevation of weather observation facility 358
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation AST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 6500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2800
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -2
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 355
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.67
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 12093
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Feb 5 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2023
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Aug 26 2002 11:02AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Anchorage

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3829J
NTSB Number ANC02LA013
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 150
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 15065129
Certified Max Gross Weight 1600
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 2 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 62
Airframe Hours 5700
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Jok Bondurant
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Anchorage
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99501
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 No
Departure Airport Code TKA
Departure City Talkeetna
Departure State AK
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1925
Departure Time Zone AST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code MRI
Destination City Anchorage
Destination State AK
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - initial climb
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Jul 15 2002 11:02AM
User who most recently changed record STAM
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --