# NTSB DEN85FA189: Cessna 320F, N90HC, Rapid City, SD, July 15, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: July 15, 1985, 08:05 local (14:05 UTC)
- Place: Rapid City, SD
- Coordinates: 44.070468, -103.230377 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.0705&lon=-103.2304&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16546
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN85FA189
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16546/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN85FA189

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, go-around (vfr)
  - planned approach - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
  - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - go-around - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - not corrected, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE ACFT CRASHED DURING AN ATTEMPTED VFR GO-AROUND. THE PLT SAID HE DIDN'T RECALL TOUCHING DOWN AND HE THOUGHT HE WAS 'FLOATING.' WHEN THE ACFT BEGAN DRIFTING LEFT OF RWY CENTERLINE, THE PLT INITIATED A GO-AROUNG. HE SAID HE APPLIED FULL POWER AND ROTATED. HE SAID HE REMEMBERED THE AIRPLANE STALLING AND REMEMBERS 'MILKING' THE FLAPS UP. HE SAID THE IMPACT CAME AS A COMPLETE SURPRISE TO HIM BECAUSE HE THOUGHT HE HAD SUFFICIENT GROUND CLEARANCE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N90HC (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 320F
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 320F-0038
- Airframe hours: 4336
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520 326 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Horizons, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, July 11, 1985, 0 hours before
- Departed: SD03, RAPID CITY, SD
- Airport: SD03, Lien, runway 15, 2,920 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 7,055 total, 259 in this make and model, 60 in the last 90 days, 27 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 160° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: RCA, 9 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19850715031349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850715031349A), Jul 15, 1985: Cessna STC320, Rapid City, SD, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Bounced on landing and started go around with extreme nose high attitude. Stalled recovered but struck the ground.

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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