Thrush S2R accident near Talkeetna, Alaska, August 17, 2017
On August 17, 2017 at about 2:00 am local time, a 1977 Thrush S2R, registered N32LF, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Talkeetna, Alaska (Stephan Lake Lodge airport). It was a business 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 improper landing in the tailwheel-equipped airplane, which allowed an excessive load on the tailwheel and resulted in the subsequent component fracture, loss of control, runway excursion, and impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 17, 2017 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Talkeetna, Alaska · Stephan Lake Lodge · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Thrush S2R 800, built 1977
- Registration
- N32LF · no longer on the register · serial 5089R
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was transporting bulk fuel to a remote lodge. During the landing to the dirt and gravel runway, the tail of the airplane came down, and the pilot heard a loud bang. He reported the empennage "went clear" to the ground and that he had no rudder authority. The pilot attempted to control the airplane, but the airplane departed the runway and impacted a ditch, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing, fuselage, and empennage. The tailwheel spring assembly and a fractured attachment bolt were recovered from the airplane. An examination revealed that the deformation of the bolt and appearance of the fracture surface were consistent with bending overstress. The spring and a portion of the bolt exhibited corrosion and pitting; signs of fatigue were not noted. The airplane flight manual states to lower the tail smoothly during the landing roll. Because the deformation of the bolt and the fracture surface were the result of overstress, it is likely that the pilot allowed an excessive landing load on the tailwheel when it touched down, which resulted in a loss of control and a subsequent runway excursion and impact with terrain.
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
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during landing (landing roll)
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing (landing roll)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision during takeoff/land during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Nose/tail landing gear › Capability exceeded
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Nose/tail landing gear › Malfunction
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Nose/tail landing gear › Damaged/degraded
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 18,000 hours in all
- Last flight review: May 13, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,527.9 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 8, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 10,300 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Honeywell Aersopace TPE331-6-252M (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Glenn Air, Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: UUO Willow AK
- Destination: AK61 Talkeetna AK
- Runway 18, 3,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.52 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 am from PATK, 40 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
1 document, released by the NTSB on May 26, 2020. 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 | NTSB Materials Laboratory Factual Report | PDF, 4 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.