# NTSB DEN81DTA07: Cessna 152, N5528B, Big Timber, MT, December 23, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: December 23, 1981
- Place: Big Timber, MT · BIG TIMBER, MT
- Location: 45.8348° N, 109.9483° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Big Timber, MT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.8348&lon=-109.9483&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report February 24, 1982
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 123050
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN81DTA07
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN81DTA07

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3236  81/12/23   BIG TIMBER,MT       CESSNA 152          CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 45, 70 TOTAL
        TIME - 1115                    N5528B              PX-  0  0  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  HOURS, 63 IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - BIG TIMBER
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          BOZEMAN,MT                  RETURN                       BIG TIMBER,MT
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           UNDERSHOOT                                               LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED DISTANCE AND ALTITUDE
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
                                  ADVERSE/UNFAVORABLE WEATHER
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                      15000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
          NONE                                                     240
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           35                                                      VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR
        REMARKS- ARPT LOCATED ON LVL BLUFF APPROX 300FT ABV SUR TERRAIN.WIND GUSTS TO 40KTS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5528B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5528B-1982-08-26), registration cancelled 1982-08-26, S/N 15283895 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 152
- Registry model: [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (registry code 2071835) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Big Timber

## 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 19811223081319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19811223081319A), Dec 23, 1981: Cessna 152, Big Timber, MT, Substantial damage. Severe gusty surface wind and pilot misjudgement resulted in crash landing short of elevated runway.

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.

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