Overview
On May 31, 2015, at about 1720 Alaska daylight time, a wheel-ski equipped Cessna 185 (N1694M) and a tricycle gear equipped Cessna 172 (N8525U) collided midair while landing at Talkeetna Airport in Talkeetna, Alaska. The Cessna 185 was operated by Talkeetna Air Taxi, Inc. as a VFR on-demand commercial air tour under 14 CFR Part 135. The Cessna 172 was operated by a student pilot under 14 CFR Part 91 on a solo cross-country flight.
Aircraft and Occupants
The Cessna 185, registered to Talkeetna Air Taxi, Inc., carried a commercial pilot and four passengers. The pilot and three passengers sustained no injuries; the fourth passenger sustained minor injuries. The Cessna 172, registered to Artic's Air Academy, LLC, had a single occupant—the student pilot—who sustained serious injuries.
Flight Histories
The Cessna 185 departed Talkeetna Airport at 1456 for a flightseeing tour around Denali National Park with a VFR flight plan on file. The Cessna 172 departed Palmer Airport at 1625, destined for Talkeetna with no flight plan.
Communications
Both aircraft transmitted position reports on the common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF) 123.6, recorded by the FAA Flight Service Station (FSS). The Cessna 172 first reported 10 miles south of Talkeetna at 1706 and requested traffic advisories. The FSS advised of four arrivals. At 1710:01, the Cessna 172 reported 5 miles south with intentions to overfly midfield at 2,500 feet and enter a right downwind for runway 18. At 1711:34, it reported over midfield at 2,200 feet, entering right downwind. At 1713:01, it reported right downwind. At 1714:15, it reported on base to final for runway 18.
The Cessna 185 first transmitted at 1709:50, reporting at the "Chase" VFR reporting point (8 miles northwest) at 2,000 feet. At 1713:08, it reported "right base number two one eight," though it was third in sequence behind two other aircraft. At 1715:18, the FSS asked if the Cessna 185 was okay after witnessing the collision.
Collision and Wreckage
The Cessna 172 pilot reported seeing two airplanes on final and turning onto final approach. About 20-30 feet above ground, he heard a loud sound and felt the airplane hit and pushed forward, then descended at about 45 degrees until impact. After the collision, both airplanes remained joined during and after impact. The debris field extended about 460 feet, with initial fragments about 62 feet before the runway threshold. The main wreckage came to rest about 5 feet left of the runway, with the Cessna 185 on top of the Cessna 172.
Airport Environment
Talkeetna Airport (TKA) is a public airport in Class E airspace from 1700-0500 UTC and Class G at other times. It has no operating control tower but has an FAA Flight Service Station that provided local advisories. Two main runways exist: 18 (right traffic pattern) and 36 (left traffic pattern). The Alaska Supplement included only a pictorial display of the right traffic pattern. The Anchorage Sectional Aeronautical Chart (effective May 28, 2015) displayed "Chase" and another VFR waypoint; the Cessna 172's chart was the previous edition without these waypoints.
Weather
At 1653, the nearest METAR at Talkeetna Airport reported wind from 350° at 4 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, clear skies, temperature 78°F, dew point 39°F, and altimeter 29.76 inHg. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.
GPS Data
A Garmin 296 handheld GPS from the Cessna 185 was examined by the NTSB, revealing the aircraft entered the traffic pattern on a right base leg about 2.5 miles from the runway end.
Regulations and Guidance
14 CFR 91.113(g) states that when two or more aircraft are approaching for landing, the lower-altitude aircraft has the right-of-way but cannot cut in front of another on final approach. The FAA Airplane Flying Handbook recommends entering the traffic pattern at a 45° angle to the downwind leg at airports without control towers.