Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Skwentna, Alaska 99667
Sunday, October 23, 2005 16:30 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The commercial certificated pilot was taxiing a ski-equipped airplane on snow covered terrain in preparation for takeoff on a Title 14, CFR Part 91, cross-country personal flight. The pilot indicated that while taxiing to the end of the off airport site, the left ski struck a buried object in the snow, and the airplane veered to the left. The airplane's left wing subsequently struck a stand of trees, and sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's selection of an unsuitable taxi area, which resulted in an encounter with a hidden obstruction, and an on-ground collision with trees while taxiing to takeoff. Factors associated with the accident were trees and a hidden obstruction.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/23/2005
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1630
Event Time Zone --
Event City Skwentna
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99667
Event Date Year 2005
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 615700N
Event Location Longitude 1511100W
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 --
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 4000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 3
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) --
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 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency --
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 19098
NTSB Notification Source ANC FAA, ROC
NTSB Notification Date Oct 28 2005 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Feb 28 2006 12:35PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Anchorage FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3308S
NTSB Number ANC06CA008
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 185
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 18502267
Certified Max Gross Weight 3350
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Jun 1 2005 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 30
Airframe Hours 3702
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ARCTIC WINGS
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O.Box 127
Aircraft Owner City Willow
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99688
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Donald E. Glaser
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P.O. Box 127
Operator City Willow
Operator State AK
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 99688
Operator Code W8RF
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 Skwentna
Departure State AK
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1630
Departure Time Zone --
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code UUO
Destination City Willow
Destination State AK
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Taxi - to takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2005 2:27PM
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 --