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Atlas / NTSB / ANC13CA005

NTSB CAROL · Event

Event ANC13CA005

2012-10-21 Talkeetna, Alaska, United States Airport · PATK None 1 aircraft Status: Completed

Registry · N1694M

FAA Aircraft Registry record.

Make / Model

CESSNA A185E

Engine

CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES (285 hp)

Seats / Engines

6 seats · 1 engine

Last airworthiness date

19710803

ADS-B equipped

Yes — Mode-S A1160D

Registrant of record

WRAITH LANE T

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which resulted in a ground loop.

Factual narrative

During the landing approach, the pilot decided to land the tundra-tire equipped airplane on a slopped, grassy area adjacent to the taxiway due to snow on his initially intended landing area. After touchdown, the airplane began to follow the slope, and the pilot applied the uphill brake, which resulted in a ground loop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. During the approach, the pilot decided to land the tundra-tire-equipped airplane on a sloped, grassy area adjacent to the taxiway because of snow on the area where he initially intended to land. After touchdown, the airplane began to follow the slope, and the pilot applied the uphill brake. The airplane subsequently entered a ground loop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).

  • C Personnel issues-Action/decision-Info processing/decision-Decision making/judgment-Pilot - C
  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C
  • Environmental issues-Physical environment-Terrain-Sloped/uneven-Contributed to outcome

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2012_ANC13CA005.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.