- Date
- December 24, 2008, 13:15 local (19:15 UTC)
- Place
- Highmore, SD
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N89418Cessna 140
- Defining event
- Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 11, 2009
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA-Rapid City FSDO
- FAA report
- 20081224854879A
- Case key
- 73172
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the flare while landing in deep snow.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that during approach to his private landing strip, the airplane ballooned. He stated that when the airplane came back down it was angled about 20 degrees from the runway centerline. He said that at this point there was less than 100 feet to the edge of the runway and the right wheel contacted snow about 10 to 12 inches deep. He stated that the deep snow "pulled [him] in" and that the airplane then nosed over. The damage to the airplane consisted of a bent rudder and a bent vertical stabilizer.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that during approach to his private landing strip, the airplane ballooned. He stated than when the airplane came back down it was angled about 20 degrees from thr runway centerline. He said that at this point there was less than 100 feet to the edge of the runway and the right wheel contacted snow about 10 to 12 inches deep. He stated that the deep snow "pulled [him] in" and the airplane nosed over. The damage to the airplane consisted of a bent rudder and a bent vertical stabilizer.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N89418
- Reported as
- Cessna 140
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 8450
- Airframe hours
- 2,000
- Engine
- Cont Motor C90 SERIES, 90 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 24, 2008
- Departed
- PVT · Highmore, SD
- Destination
- PVT · Highmore, SD
- Airport
- PVT · Quirk Field (Private), runway 13, 2,000 × 80 ft, snow
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 56
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- September 26, 2008
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 116 total · 24 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 230° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 9 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.92 inHg
- Observed at
- PIR, 37 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.