# NTSB DEN86LA042: Cessna 172P, N64069, Missoula, MT, December 9, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 9, 1985, 11:25 local (18:25 UTC)
- Place: Missoula, MT
- Coordinates: 46.900333, -113.919326 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.9003&lon=-113.9193&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16895
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN86LA042
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16895/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN86LA042

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - icy (contributing factor)
  - aircraft handling - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - snowbank (cause)
- Nose over, landing - roll

## Analysis

THE SOLO STUDENT PLT WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND DURING A LOCAL FLT WHEN HE LOST CONTROL OF THE ACFT DURING THE LANDING ROLL.THE PLT STATED THAT THE ACFT VEERED TO ONE SIDE OF THE ICE COVERED RWY WHERE IT CONTACTED 6 TO 8 INCHES OF SNOW, THE ACFT CONTINUED TRAVELING FOR APRX 60 FT BEFORE IT NOSED OVER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N64069](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N64069), registered now, S/N 17275515, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172P
- Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17275515
- Airframe hours: 1227
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Minuteman Aviation, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, July 1, 1985, 25 hours before
- Airport: MSO, Missoula County, runway 11, 9,499 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 19 total, 15 in this make and model, 5 as pilot in command, 19 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 279° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 16 °F, dew point 1 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MSO

## 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 19851209061209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19851209061209A), Dec 9, 1985: Cessna STC172, Missoula, MT, Substantial damage. Veered off the side of the ice covered runway into snow and nosed over.

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.
