Cessna 120 accident near Talkeetna, Alaska, April 21, 2024
On April 21, 2024 at about 10:45 pm local time, a 1946 Cessna 120, registered N77032, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Talkeetna, Alaska (Talkeetna Airport). It was a personal 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
A degraded ignition system, which resulted in a total loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident was maintenance personnel’s inadequate inspection of the ignition system.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 21, 2024 · about 10:45 pm local time
- Place
- Talkeetna, Alaska · Talkeetna Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 120, built 1946 · all 120s on the register
- Registration
- N77032 · registry record · serial 11478
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that the engine rpm began to fluctuate just after takeoff, so he turned back to the airport and verified the fuel selector position. During the turn the engine lost all power and the pilot made a forced landing into snow-covered terrain short of the runway. The airplane’s landing gear dug into the snow, and the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed the airplane contained about half a tank of fuel. Fuel was present throughout the fuel system; no obstructions were observed in the gascolator fuel strainer or the in-line fuel screen in the carburetor. The P-lead connections into both the left and right magnetos were loose. The crankshaft was rotated and only one spark plug lead produced a spark. The magnetos were placed on a test bench and all but three of the leads produced a strong spark. The installed spark plugs were in worn-out condition. Five of the sparkplugs had excessive gaps between the ground electrode and the center electrode. Inspection of the ignition system and P lead connections should have occurred during the last annual inspection. It is likely that the degraded, poorly maintained ignition system resulted in the total loss of engine power.
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
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during takeoff defining event
- Aircraft inspection event during prior to flight
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng wiring › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Ignition system › Spark plugs/igniters › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Ignition system › Dist (ignition harness) › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Scheduled/routine maintenance › Maintenance personnel
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Ignition system › Ignition system wiring › Inadequate inspection
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 989 hours in all; 408 in this make and model; 76 in the last 90 days; 36 in the last 30 days; 928 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 5, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,543.1 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 7, 2023; 46 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor C85 SERIES (piston); 3,524 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.83 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from ATK
Weather report (METAR): PATK 212253Z 28003KT 10SM CLR 12/M07 A2983 RMK AO2 SLP105 T01171067
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on April 2, 2025. 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Engine Examination | PDF, 21 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Maintenance Logbook Excerpts | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Photos | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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 documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text 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 ANC24LA025.