Cessna 175 accident near Talkeetna, Alaska, August 23, 2014
On August 23, 2014 at about 10:30 pm local time, a 1958 Cessna 175, registered N7119M, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Talkeetna, Alaska (Ridgeline airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's selection of an unsuitable takeoff area, resulting in a loss of control and subsequent inflight collision with terrain during takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to use the checklist, resulting in an improper propeller pitch setting for takeoff, and the pilot's inadvertent partial application of the wheel brakes during the takeoff roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 23, 2014 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Talkeetna, Alaska · Ridgeline · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 175, built 1958 · all 175s on the register
- Registration
- N7119M · registry record · serial 55419
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was departing, uphill, from a rough and uneven, tundra-covered off-airport site, which required a correction for a variable 10 knot left crosswind. The site was situated atop a mountain ridgeline. The pilot reported that during the takeoff roll the airplane hit a series of bumps and ruts, and it became airborne prematurely. He added that as the airplane continued to bounce, he braced himself against the rudder pedals, and he inadvertently depressed the brakes. When the airplane settled to the ground and the wheels touched down, the airplane slowed. In an effort to avoid rising terrain ahead, and in an attempt to gain airspeed, the pilot turned the airplane to the left and downslope. The airplane continued to descend and it subsequently collided with brush-covered terrain, sustaining substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunction or failure with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot also noted that he failed to use the predeparture checklist, and a postaccident inspection revealed that the propeller pitch control was found to be in a cruise power setting.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control in flight during takeoff defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of checklist › Pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Rough terrain › Contributed to outcome
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Sloped/uneven › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 741 hours in all; 216 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 692 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 26, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,295 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 28, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 2,348 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 1,788 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: None Talkeetna AK
- Destination: BCV Birchwood AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 40, 1,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ANC14CA067.