Talkeetna Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Talkeetna, Alaska 99676
Sunday, October 21, 2012 18:15 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During the approach, the pilot decided to land the tundra-tire-equipped airplane on a sloped, grassy area adjacent to the taxiway because of snow on the area where he initially intended to land. After touchdown, the airplane began to follow the slope, and the pilot applied the uphill brake. The airplane subsequently entered a ground loop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which resulted in a ground loop.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/21/2012
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1815
Event Time Zone --
Event City Talkeetna
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99676
Event Date Year 2012
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 621914N
Event Location Longitude 1500537W
Event Location Airport Talkeetna Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID PATK
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 --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1753 Atlantic Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID PATK
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation ADT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 1
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 200
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) 30.26
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR PATK 220153Z AUTO 20005KT 10SM CLR 01/M13 A3
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 4
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 30812
NTSB Notification Source FAA AAL Regional Operations Ce
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 30 2012 2:17PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1694M
NTSB Number ANC13CA005
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion --
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model A185E
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 18501879
Certified Max Gross Weight --
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 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection AAIP
Date of Last Inspection Aug 24 2012 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 7
Airframe Hours 8730
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type C126
Aircraft Owner Name TALKEETNA AIR TAXI INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City TALKEETNA
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99676-0073
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 TALKEETNA
Operator State AK
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 99676-0073
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) --
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code PATK
Departure City Talkeetna
Departure State AK
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1715
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code PATK
Destination City Talkeetna
Destination State AK
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 30 2012 2:17PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 18
Runway Length 3500
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight Yes
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --