# NTSB SEA91LA138: Cessna C175, N7468M, East Glacier, MT, June 16, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 15, 1991, 21:20 local (Jun 16, 1991, 03:20 UTC)
- Place: East Glacier, MT
- Coordinates: 48.410343, -113.309677 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.4103&lon=-113.3097&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report February 8, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 41456
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA91LA138
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41456/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA91LA138

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED.  CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS:  THE GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THIS TYPE OF OPERATION.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type operation, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT OF THE CESSNA 175 STATED THAT THE WIND WAS BLOWING DOWN THE RUNWAY AT THIRTY TO FORTY KNOTS, WITH MODERATE TURBULENCE WHEN HE ENTERED THE PATTERN AT THE PRIVATE GRASS AIRSTRIP.  HE SELECTED HALF FLAPS AS HE TURNED FINAL APPROACH BUT RAISED THE FLAPS TO THE FULL UP POSITION BECAUSE HE FELT THE WINDS AND TURBULENCE HAD INCREASED.  AS THE AIRCRAFT CROSSED THE THRESHOLD THE PILOT REDUCED POWER CAUSING THE STALL WARNING HORN TO ACTIVATE.  THE PILOT IMMEDIATELY ADDED POWER, BUT THE AIRCRAFT LANDED HARD BEFORE HE COULD RECOVER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7468M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7468M-1993-03-02), registration cancelled 1993-03-02, S/N 55768 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA C175
- Registry model: [Cessna 175](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-175) (registry code 2072502) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 55768
- Engines: CONTINENTAL GO 300-C 175 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Louis A. Sitzmann Jr
- Registered owner: Louis A. Sitzmann Jr
- Departed: BMC, BRIGHAM CITY, UT
- Airport: 06, Gallup Field

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 209 total, 209 in this make and model, 187 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 270° at 30 knots, gusting 40
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 45 °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 19910615022259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910615022259A), Jun 15, 1991: Cessna 175, East Glacier, MT, Substantial damage. Made hard landing in severe gusty wind. Failed to keep speed up and fly aircraft onto runway.

## Other investigations on N7468M (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 SEA76DYE58](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA76DYE58), Aug 30, 1976: Cessna 175 (N7468M), Oak Harbor, WA, 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.

---
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.