Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed to avoid an aerodynamic stall while maneuvering at a high density altitude.
NTSB analysis
The private pilot said that he was on a personal local flight when he made a low pass about 100 feet over a camp on a glacier, at about 7,200 feet elevation. He made the pass with full flaps, with approximately 65 knots of airspeed. When he retracted the flaps, he said that the airplane descended uncontrolled into the snow, despite the full application of power. The pilot indicated that there were no known mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage during impact.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ANC09LA034 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Apr 17, 2009
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Talkeetna, Alaska
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna 152
- N-number
- N46326
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.