Probable cause
The pilot inadvertently landed with the parking brake set.
NTSB analysis
The pilot landed at a base camp on a glacier. To prevent the airplane from sliding, he raised the wheel skis and set the parking brake. Upon departure, he lowered the skis but forgot to release the parking brake. Upon touchdown on a hard surfaced runway, the airplane came to an abrupt stop and nosed down, then settled back on the tailwheel. The horizontal stabilizer sustained substantial damage. The pilot indicated there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. He said the accident could have been prevented if he had ensured that the parking brake was not set on the glacier, which would have prevented an abrupt stop when he later landed on wheels.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ANC12CA041 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- May 22, 2012
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Talkeetna, Alaska
- Nearest airport
- Talkeetna (PATK)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Dehavilland DHC-2 MK. I(L20A)
- N-number
- N323KT
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 135 (charter and commuter)
Other records under this N-number
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.