# NTSB SEA08CA132: Cessna 172, N8103E, Big Timber, MT, May 10, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 10, 2008, 17:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Big Timber, MT - Coordinates: 45.806667, -109.981666 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.8067&lon=-109.9817&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 30, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 67981 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA08CA132 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67981/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08CA132 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed during landing which resulted in a stall. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=2072402), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Airport facilities/design: runway/landing area condition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017035): Environmental issues › Operating environment · Not specified; cases with it: [Cessna 172, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017035/cases.md?model=2072402), [All aircraft, 61 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017035/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: wind sock](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022030): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified; cases with it: [Cessna 172, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022030/cases.md?model=2072402), [All aircraft, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072402), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093); cases with it: [Cessna 172, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md?model=2072402), [All aircraft, 319 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172, 36 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072402), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot had finished his flight lesson and was returning solo to his departure airport. He observed the windsock and noted that the wind was directly down the runway at approximately 15 to 20 knots. The pilot said that as he entered the flare, he was slow and the left wing stalled, then dropped, and, the left wing and main landing gear touched the runway. The student pilot applied power and the airplane ended up approximately 90 degrees to the runway and 8 feet above ground level, off of the runway surface. The left wing then collided with the windsock pole and sustained substantial damage. No mechanical anomalies were noted. ## Factual narrative The student pilot had finished his flight lesson and was returning solo to his departure airport. He observed the windsock and noted that the wind was directly down the runway and approximately 15 to 20 knots. The pilot said that as he entered the flare, he was slow and the left wing stalled, then dropped, and, the left wing and main landing gear touched the runway. The student pilot applied power and the airplane ended up approximately 90 degrees to the runway and 8 feet above ground level, off of the runway surface. The left wing then collided with the windsock pole and sustained substantial damage. No mechanical anomalies were noted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8103E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8103E-2011-04-07), registration cancelled 2011-04-07, S/N 36795 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 - Registry model: [Cessna 172](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172) (registry code 2072402) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 36795 - Engines: Teledyne Continental O-300-A reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ronald Barron - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Departed: MT48, Livingston, MT - Destination: 6S0, Big Timber, MT - Airport: 6S0, Big Timber Airport, runway 24, 5,282 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 53; student; medical: class 3; flight hours: 81 total, 81 in this make and model, 9 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 15 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: LVM, 20 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 20080510835609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080510835609A), May 10, 2008: Cessna 172, Big Timber, MT, Substantial damage. On may 10, at 1730, a Cessna 172, N8103E, registered to [privacy data omitted] collided with the wind sock during landing at Big Timber Airport, Big Timber,… 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.