Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Talkeetna, Alaska 99676
Friday, May 24, 2002 23:15 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The certificated airline transport pilot was departing in a wheel-ski equipped airplane from a climbing base camp located at the 7,200 foot level of a glacial ice field. Due to terrain clearance, the standard takeoff run is to the southeast, and down-slope on a 1,500 foot long snow-covered glacial site. The pilot said that prior to starting his takeoff run, he noted that there was a 3 to 5 knot tailwind. During the takeoff run, as the airplane neared the end of the site, the airplane became airborne, then settled onto the glacier. The airplane bounced three times and the right main landing gear collapsed. The airplane nosed over, and came to rest inverted, sustaining substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot noted that after he exited the airplane, he discovered that the tailwind had increased to about 10 knots. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident anomalies with the airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate evaluation of weather conditions, which precipitated an in-flight loss of control and subsequent collision with terrain. A factor contributing to the accident was the tailwind.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/24/2002
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 2315
Event Time Zone --
Event City Talkeetna
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99676
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 621845N
Event Location Longitude 1494513W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling --
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 4
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 300
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 10
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 5
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 13023
NTSB Notification Source ANC FAA, ROC
NTSB Notification Date May 25 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 40
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Apr 29 2003 4:26PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Anchorage FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N80994
NTSB Number ANC02LA039
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 185
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 18503144
Certified Max Gross Weight 3550
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 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection May 20 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 10
Airframe Hours 4409
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Talkeetna Air Taxi, Inc.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O.Box 73
Aircraft Owner City Talkeetna
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99676
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name TALKEETNA AIR TAXI INC
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 TL7C
Owner has at least one certificate --
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code --
Departure City Talkeetna
Departure State AK
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 2315
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code TKA
Destination City Talkeetna
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 Feb 11 2003 1:55PM
User who most recently changed record PETL
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 --