NTSB Factual Report

On August 16, 2017, about 1800 Alaska daylight time, a turbine-powered Thrush (formerly Rockwell International) S2R-800 airplane, N32LF, lost control and impacted terrain while landing at the Stephan Lake Lodge Airport, Talkeetna, Alaska about 46 miles northeast of Talkeetna. The commercial pilot sustained no injury, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to, and operated by, Glenn Air, Inc., Palmer, Alaska, as a visual flight rules flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and company flight following procedures were in effect. The flight originated from the Willow Airport, Willow, Alaska about 1730.

The pilot reported that the purpose of the flight was to transport bulk fuel to the Stephan Lake Lodge Airport. Upon taking off from the Willow Airport, the pilot reported he heard a "wack" noise emit from the rear of the airplane which he attributed to a rock impacting a flap. After an uneventful flight, the pilot proceeded to land into the wind to runway 18 at the Stephan Lake Lodge Airport. Upon touchdown on the dirt and gravel runway, the tail of the airplane came down, and the pilot reported he heard a "loud bang." He reported the tailwheel assembly "went clear" to the ground and he had no rudder authority. The pilot attempted to control the airplane, he maintained a straight path for about 600 feet, and the plane departed the runway to the right going about 25 miles per hour. The airplane came to rest after impacting a ditch running parallel to the runway. A postaccident inspection by the pilot revealed that a bolt in the front tail spring attachment assembly failed.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and the empennage.

The wreckage was recovered and transported to a secure facility for future examination of the airframe.