# NTSB SEA96LA009: Cessna 172N, N6477D, Laurel, MT, October 19, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 19, 1995, 10:20 local (16:20 UTC) - Place: Laurel, MT - Coordinates: 45.599147, -108.680946 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.5991&lon=-108.6809&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 4, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42303 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA96LA009 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42303/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA96LA009 ## Probable cause the student pilot's improper planning/decision, which resulted in inadequate altitude/clearance from hangar buildings and a subsequent emergency landing, while attempting to evade a flock of geese. The flock of geese was a related factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Miscellaneous/other, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - object - bird(s) (contributing factor) - evasive maneuver - initiated, pilot in command - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - object - hangar/airport building - altitude/clearance - inadequate, pilot in command - On ground/water collision with object, emergency landing - Nose over, emergency landing ## Analysis During a touch-and-go landing, the student pilot made an evasive maneuver on final approach to avoid a collision with a flock of geese. After a left turn toward a row of hangars, he determined that he would not be able to clear the hangars, so he reduced power and landed. During the rollout, the nose landing gear contacted a concrete block in a burrow pit next to the taxiway, and the airplane nosed over. ## Factual narrative On October 19, 1995, at 1020 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 172, N6477D, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over after an evasive maneuver and off-runway landing at the Laurel, Montana airport. The student pilot, who was the sole occupant, was uninjured. No flight plan was filed for the flight which had departed Billings, Montana, about 1000 for Laurel, for a series of touch-and-go landings. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The ELT activated, but did not assist in locating the accident site. During a telephone interview, the pilot stated that he touched down on runway 22 in a right crosswind. A flock of geese flew in front of the aircraft from right to left, and he added full power for go-around and raised the flaps from 30 to 20 degrees. The aircraft departed the runway on the left side, and nosed over, damaging the wings, vertical fin, and tail cone. In a written statement, the pilot stated that he banked left in his evasive maneuver. He stated that when he leveled off, it was evident that he could not make it over the hangars in his flight path. He cut the power and landed, diagonally across the airport and taxiway. During rollout, the nose gear hit a concrete block in the burrow pit along the taxiway. The nose gear separated and the aircraft nosed over, causing substantial damage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6477D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6477D-2007-07-11), registration cancelled 2007-07-11, S/N 17272825, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172N - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17272825 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Plane Folks Flying Club - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: BIL, BILLINGS, MT - Destination: 6S8 - Airport: 6S8, Laurel Municipal, runway 22, 3,775 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 79 total, 79 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 13 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: BIL ## 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 19951019047589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19951019047589A), Oct 19, 1995: Cessna 172N, Laurel, MT, Substantial damage. Flock of geese flew in front plane while landing. Banked to avoid birds. Aborted. Landed off runway. Hit cement block ## Other investigations on N6477D (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 SEA81DYE06](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA81DYE06), Nov 16, 1980: Cessna 172 (N6477D), Diamond Point, 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.