# NTSB DEN88LA102: Cessna 182P, N79P, Great Falls, MT, April 27, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 26, 1988, 19:30 local (Apr 27, 1988, 01:30 UTC)
- Place: Great Falls, MT
- Coordinates: 47.649036, -111.380546 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.6490&lon=-111.3805&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report March 13, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17466
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN88LA102
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17466/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN88LA102

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - light condition - sunglare (contributing factor)
  - visual/aural perception, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload

## Analysis

THE PRIVATE PLT WAS RETURNING HOME FROM A PERSONAL TRANSPORTATION FLIGHT WITH ONE PAX, ANOTHER PRIVATE PLT. BOTH MEN REPORTED THAT WHILE ON FINAL FOR RNWY 25, THE SUN WAS IN THEIR EYES AND HINDERED THEIR VISION. THE PLT IN COMMAND STATED THAT HE CANNOT REMEMBER TRIMMING THE ACFT FOR LANDING AND CANNOT REMEMBER FLARING FOR TOUCHDOWN. THE PAX REPORTED A SUDDEN NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE AFTER PASSING THE THRESHOLD. THE PAX GRABBED THE YOKE AND APPLIED FULL UP ELEVATOR. THE ACFT IMPACTED THE RNWY NOSE LOW AND COLLAPSED THE NOSE GEAR. A POST ACCIDENT FIRE DESTROYED THE ACFT FROM THE FIREWALL AFT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N79P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N79P-2013-05-02), registration cancelled 2013-05-02, S/N 18262669, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182P
- Registry model: [Cessna 182P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182p) (registry code 2075816) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 182062669
- Airframe hours: 2518
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-R 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: N79p, Incorporated
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 2, 1988, 25 hours before
- Departed: BIL, BILLINGS, MT
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: GTF, Great Falls Int'L, runway 25, 4,320 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 174 total, 103 in this make and model, 142 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 260° at 10 knots, gusting 13
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 50 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19880426011519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880426011519A), Apr 26, 1988: Cessna 182P, Great Falls, MT, Destroyed. Pilot did not flare aircraft on landing. Passenger tried to correct but plane impacted nose down and caught fire.

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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