# NTSB DEN08LA049: Cessna 172M, N12606, Pine Bluffs, WY, January 12, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 12, 2008, 15:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Pine Bluffs, WY - Coordinates: 41.153331, -104.130279 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1533&lon=-104.1303&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 30, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards Field Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 67377 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN08LA049 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67377/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN08LA049 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane. Contributing factors in this accident were the unfavorable wind and the snow bank. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 110 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000/cases.md) - [Terrain: snowy/icy terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021030): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021030/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 77 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021030/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: snow/ice](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022060): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022060/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 67 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022060/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 123 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 61 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 100 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot had been practicing touch-and-go landings when "a very large gust of wind blew [him] completely out of control to the point of approaching airborne." The airplane went off the side of the runway and struck a snow bank, resulting in substantial damage. ## Factual narrative On January 12, 2008, approximately 1500 mountain standard time, a Cessna 172M, N12606, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain during landing at Pine Bluffs Airport (82v), Pine Bluffs, Wyoming. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot, the sole occupant on board, was not injured. The local flight originated at 82V approximately 1445. According to the pilot's accident report, he had been practicing touch-and-go landings when "I experienced something that I had never experienced [in] my 50 years of flying...a very large gust of wind blew me completely out of control to the point of approaching airborne and I had to fight to keep the wings level, the plane straight and parallel with the runway with much difficulty in addition with left aileron down and left brake. And it still would not correct the plane's position." The airplane went off the side of the runway and struck a snow bank. Damage consisted of a collapsed nose gear, buckled firewall, bent propeller, crushed engine cowling, and scraped wing tip. The airplane's owner witnessed the accident and corroborated the pilot's report. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N12606](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N12606-2012-06-08), registration cancelled 2012-06-08, S/N 17262108, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172M - Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17262108 - Airframe hours: 5828 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E1D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Marquardt Farms, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 82V, Pine Bluffs, WY - Destination: 82V`, Pine Bluffs, WY - Airport: 82V, Pine Bluffs, runway 08, 5,336 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 77; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 651 total, 281 in this make and model, 617 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 10 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: IBM ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20080112009909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080112009909A), Jan 12, 2008: Cessna 172M, Pine Bluffs, WY, Substantial damage. (-23) After completing three practice landings the private pilot lost control of the aircraft while attempting the fourth practice landing. From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.