Wsk-Pzl Warzawa-Okecie PZL 104 WILGA 80 accident near Talkeetna, Alaska, May 14, 2017
On May 14, 2017 at about 1:30 am local time, a 1980 Wsk-Pzl Warzawa-Okecie PZL 104 WILGA 80, registered N9726N, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Talkeetna, Alaska (Talkeetna airport). It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. Contributing to the accident were the pilot's lack of training and experience in the accident make and model airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 14, 2017 · about 1:30 am local time
- Place
- Talkeetna, Alaska · Talkeetna · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Wsk-Pzl Warzawa-Okecie PZL 104 WILGA 80, built 1980 · all PZL 104 WILGA 80s on the register
- Registration
- N9726N · no longer on the register · serial CF139510
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of a tailwheel-equipped airplane stated that, during the landing roll, the airplane veered slightly left of the runway centerline. To correct for the veer, the pilot applied right rudder, and the airplane subsequently veered right. The pilot was unable to regain directional control, and the airplane continued off the right side of the runway onto soft gravel, which resulted in a rapid right ground loop. The left landing gear leg fractured, and the left wing and elevator impacted the runway surface, which substantially damaged the left aileron and fuselage. The pilot stated that he had no experience flying this model of airplane on wheels. According to the airplane owner, the airplane’s rudder and brake system was unique and could be difficult to operate. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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 on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing (landing roll)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Training › Training with equipment › Pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Total experience w/ equipment › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › (general) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 10,001 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 4,059 as pilot in command; 3,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 26, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 658.7 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 9, 2016
- Maximum gross weight: 3,086 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pzl M-14 (piston); 650 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: UUO Willow AK
- Destination: TKA Talkeetna AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 3,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,600 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.61 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 am from PATK
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on February 27, 2019. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Witness Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photos | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.