Cessna 185 N80994

Summary

On 25 May 2002 at about 07:15 local time, a Cessna 185 registered N80994, operated by Talkeetna Air Taxi Inc, was involved in an accident near Talkeetna, Alaska, United States. 5 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

25 May 2002 at 07:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Talkeetna, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

62.3125, -149.7536

Aircraft

Cessna 185

Registration

N80994

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Talkeetna Air Taxi Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Talkeetna → Talkeetna

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC02LA039

Nobody was injured.

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.