# NTSB DEN89LA157: Cessna 172M, N9560H, Bicknell, UT, July 3, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 3, 1989, 13:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place: Bicknell, UT
- Coordinates: 38.330753, -111.549598 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.3308&lon=-111.5496&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 5, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17735
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN89LA157
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17735/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN89LA157

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED, WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL.  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE:  THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF AN UNSUITABLE AREA (TERRAIN) TO LAND, UNFAVORABLE WIND, & OBJECTS (FENCE & IRRIGATION SPRINKLER).

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, landing - aborted
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - aborted landing - attempted, pilot in command
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing
  - terrain condition - roadway/highway
- Main gear collapsed, landing
  - landing gear,main gear - overload
- On ground/water collision with object, landing
  - object - fence post (contributing factor)
  - object - other (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PRIVATE PLT AND THREE PAX WERE MAKING A X-COUNTRY FLT. TWO OF THE PAX BECAME AIRSICK AND THE PLT ELECTED TO LAND ON A PAVED RURAL ROAD, TO THE NORTH, WITH WINDS HE ESTIMATED WERE CALM. HE SAID THAT DURING THE FLARE TO LAND (APRX 25 FT AGL), THE PLANE ENCOUNTERED A GUST OF WIND FROM THE RIGHT REAR, SO HE RAISED THE FLAPS AND ATTEMPTED A GO-AROUND. THE PLANE SETTLED ONTO THE ROAD, LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR FIRST, WHICH COLLAPSED. THE PLANE THEN DEPARTED THE ROAD TO THE LEFT, STRUCK A FENCE POST AND COLLIDED WITH AN IRRIGATION SYSTEM IN A FIELD. TWO WITNESSES (ABOUT 1/2 MILE AWAY) SAW THE THE ACCIDENT, BUT THEY COULD NOT CONFIRM ANY WIND GUSTS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9560H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9560H-1991-03-29), registration cancelled 1991-03-29, S/N 17266229 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M
- Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17266229
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: J. Bradley  & Kathy Bundy
- Departed: SGU, ST GEORGE, UT
- Destination: U07, BULLFROG, UT

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 496 total, 496 in this make and model, 470 as pilot in command, 47 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19890703019619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890703019619A), Jul 3, 1989: Cessna 172M, Bicknell, UT, Substantial damage. Passengers airsick, elected to land on a road, leveled off too high. Impact collapsed left gear. Skidded into a field

## Other investigations on N9560H (1)

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.

- [NTSB OAK77DVD05](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK77DVD05), Nov 7, 1976: Cessna 172 (N9560H), Crescent City, CA, substantial damage

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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