Cessna 185 accident near Talkeetna, Alaska, June 9, 2003
On June 9, 2003 at about 7:45 pm local time, a Cessna 185, registered N5246E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Talkeetna, Alaska (Mountain House airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 1 person had minor injuries; 4 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's excessive taxi speed while attempting to turn the airplane in soft snow, which resulted in a nose over. A factor in the accident was soft snow.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 9, 2003 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Talkeetna, Alaska · Mountain House · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 4 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 185 · all 185s on the register
- Registration
- N5246E · no longer on the register · serial 18503943
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the wheel ski-equipped airplane was attempting to takeoff down-slope from a remote mountain glacier airstrip for an air taxi sightseeing flight . The pilot reported that the snow on the runway was fresh and wet, which slowed the airplane's acceleration. He said he elected to abort the takeoff because of the airplane's slow acceleration and low airspeed. Following the aborted takeoff, he initiated a left turn to return to the top of the airstrip for another takeoff attempt. As the airplane turned, the pilot said it felt like the right main landing gear wheel ski encountered a soft spot or sink hole, and sank deeper into the snow. As soon the as the ski sank, the airplane nosed over. The airplane received structural damage to the fuselage and right wing. A national park ranger who flew to the accident scene reported that it appeared that the airplane's tailwheel-ski never touched down before the left turn was initiated. He said the proper procedure for an aborted takeoff on the glacier is to come to a complete stop going straight, deplane the passengers, make the turn up-slope, and then taxi back for takeoff.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,000 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 4,800 as pilot in command; 3,500 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 24, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,192 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, June 1, 2003; 27 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TKA Talkeetna AK at 2:00 pm
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N5246E the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.