# NTSB SEA07CA179: Cessna 170A, N1316D, Bozeman, MT, June 24, 2007

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 24, 2007, 12:01 local (18:01 UTC)
- Place: Bozeman, MT
- Coordinates: 45.682498, -110.80278
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.6825&lon=-110.8028&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 30, 2007
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 66066
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA07CA179
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66066/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA07CA179

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate visual lookout and failure to maintain airspeed, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and uncontrolled descent into terrain while manuevering to avoid the transmission lines.  The sun glare was a factor.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - object - wire,transmission
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - light condition - sunglare (contributing factor)
  - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - ground

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he was flying the airplane over a family member's ranch in a low-altitude, slow flight configuration.  He proceeded northbound attempting to regain airspeed when he noticed transmission lines that had previously been visually obstructed to him by the sun.  The pilot pulled back on the control yoke attempting to avoid the lines, but the airplane stalled and descended uncontrolled to the ground.  The pilot stated that there were no mechanical abnormalities to preclude normal operation of the airplane prior to the accident.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that he was flying the airplane over a family member's ranch in a low-altitude, slow flight configuration.  He proceeded northbound attempting to regain airspeed when he noticed transmission lines that had previously been visually obstructed to him by the sun.  The pilot pulled back on the control yoke attempting to avoid the lines, but the airplane stalled and descended uncontrolled to the ground.  The pilot stated that there were no mechanical abnormalities to preclude normal operation of the airplane prior to the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1316D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1316D-2007-08-03), registration cancelled 2007-08-03, S/N 19892, built 1951 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 170A
- Registry model: [Cessna 170A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170a) (registry code 2072304) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental C145 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c145-series) (registry code 17012, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 19892
- Engines: Teledyne Continental C145 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: LVM, Livingston, MT
- Destination: 735, Tekoa, WA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 66; commercial, flight engineer, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; flight hours: 6,500 total, 1,200 in this make and model, 18 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 350° at 4 knots
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter: 29.84 inHg
- Observed at: BZN, 18 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 20070624009829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070624009829A), Jun 24, 2007: Cessna 170A, Bozeman, MT, Destroyed. (-23) On Sunday June 24, 2007, a Cessna CE-170-A, N1316D, owned and operated by the pilot [privacy data omitted] stalled and fell into a coulee approximately…

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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