Cessna 185 accident near Talkeetna, Alaska, July 24, 2005
On July 24, 2005 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Cessna 185, registered N332DG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Talkeetna, Alaska (Talkeetna airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to compensate for wind conditions and his failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll, which resulted in an excursion off the side of the runway and a nose over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 24, 2005 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Talkeetna, Alaska · Talkeetna · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 185 · all 185s on the register
- Registration
- N332DG · registry record · serial 18503043
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airline transport certificated pilot was landing a tailwheel-equipped airplane at the conclusion of a Title 14 CFR Part 135 sightseeing flight. Aviation Routine Weather Reports (METARs) before and after the accident were reporting a slight left crosswind of 3 to 5 knots. The pilot reported that as he began his landing approach, the automated terminal information system (ATIS) was reporting a slight left crosswind at 8 knots and gusts. He said that during his landing approach, there was a 30 degree right crosswind with gusty wind conditions, and that during the landing roll, a gust of wind lifted the right wing, and the airplane became airborne. He attempted to maintain control of the airplane by application of engine power and rudder, but once the airplane touched down again, it headed toward the right side of the runway. The pilot reduced power and applied the brakes. The airplane nosed over off the right side of the runway.
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, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,168 hours in all; 68 in this make and model; 83 in the last 90 days; 51 in the last 30 days; 2,807 as pilot in command; 67 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,052 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 1, 2005; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,520 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PATK Talkeetna AK at 4:30 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 18, 3,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from PATK
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.
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.