Event ANC98LA134

Factual narrative

On August 31, 1998, about 1750 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Cessna 185E airplane, N333DG, sustained substantial damage while landing at the Talkeetna Airport, Talkeetna, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area flightseeing flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. The certificated commercial pilot, and the four passengers aboard, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a company flight plan was filed. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge, on August 31, the pilot reported that he had just landed on runway 18. The pilot stated that the touchdown and the landing roll were uneventful, until the airplane's nose veered slightly to the right. He said he compensated by applying left rudder, but the airplane suddenly ground looped to the right. The left wing and left elevator collided with the runway during the ground loop, and both sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that during the ground loop, the left wheel casting separated, and was found about 20 feet behind the accident site. In the NTSB Pilot/Operator report, the Chief Pilot reported that the flight was returning to Talkeetna earlier than scheduled due to a sick passenger aboard. He said that the pilot intended to land in the gravel area just short of the paved runway, eliminating the need to back taxi, and allow the sick passenger exit the airplane sooner. He reported that during touchdown, the pilot landed sideways, and the left wheel casting separated. Wind conditions at the time of the accident were reported to be calm. The 23 year old commercial pilot was landing a tailwheel equipped airplane on a gravel runway. The pilot stated that the touchdown and the landing roll were uneventful, until the airplane's nose veered slightly to the right. He said he compensated by applying left rudder, but the airplane suddenly ground looped to the right. The left wing and left elevator collided with the runway during the ground loop, and both sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that during the ground loop, the left wheel casting separated. In the NTSB Pilot/Operator report, the Chief Pilot stated that the flight was returning to Talkeetna earlier than scheduled with a sick passenger aboard. He said that the pilot intended to land in the gravel area just short of the paved runway, eliminating the need to back taxi, and allowing the sick passenger to exit the airplane sooner. The operator reported that during touchdown, the pilot landed sideways, and the left wheel casting separated. Wind conditions at the time of the accident were reported to be calm. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12