# NTSB SEA97LA131: Cessna 182C, N8522T, Hardin, MT, June 7, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 7, 1997, 06:02 local (12:02 UTC) - Place: Hardin, MT - Coordinates: 45.699069, -107.690101 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.6991&lon=-107.6901&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 29, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42623 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA97LA131 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42623/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA97LA131 ## Probable cause the student's delay in initiating a go-around. A factor relating to the accident was: the sunglare. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - aborted - light condition - sunglare (contributing factor) - go-around - delayed, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The student pilot turned onto final approach for runway 4 just after 0600 hours and found that his approach was directly into the early morning sunrise. He reported that he 'could no longer see (his) instrument panel or the runway.' He said he then 'added power to go around' and that 'the next thing was the sound of the airplane hitting the ground.' The pilot reported that he waited too long to abort the landing. The sun's angle of elevation was determined to be 5.23 degrees above the horizon, and the angle of azimuth was determined to be 48.41 degrees magnetic. ## Factual narrative On June 7, 1997, approximately 0602 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 182C, N8522T, registered to and being flown by a student pilot, was substantially damaged during collision with terrain while executing a go-around at the Fairgrounds Airpark, Hardin, Montana. The pilot was uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight, which was to have been a supervised solo, was to have been operated under 14CFR91, and originated from Sheridan, Wyoming, approximately 0520. The 71 year old pilot reported that he was following a friend on the cross country flight to Hardin and that upon final approach to landing on runway 04 (CHART I) he found that his final approach was directly into the early morning sunrise. He reported that he "could no longer see (his) instrument panel or the runway." He reported that he then "added power to go around" and that "the next thing was the sound of the airplane hitting the ground." The pilot also reported to the Safety Board (page 4, "Recommendation" NTSB Form 6120.1/2) that "the sun was in my eyes, I became disoriented, (and) waited too long to abort (the) landing." Calculations based on the latitude and longitude of the Hardin airport and the time of 0602MDT on June 7, 1997, provided a sun angle of elevation of 5.23 degrees above the horizon and a sun azimuth angle of 62.42 degrees from true north (48.41 degrees magnetic). ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8522T](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8522T), registered now, S/N 52422, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 182C - Registry model: [Cessna 182C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182c) (registry code 2072708) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 52422 - Airframe hours: 5094 - Engines: Continental O-470-L 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Carson, Robert, T. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 9, 1997, 36 hours before - Departed: SHR, SHERIDAN, WY - Destination: MT02 - Airport: MT02, Fairgrounds Airpark, runway 4, 3,542 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 185 total, 36 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn - Wind: 290° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: BIL, 44 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 19970607013639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970607013639A), Jun 7, 1997: Cessna 182C, Hardin, MT, Substantial damage. Pilot was blinded by sun on short final to runway, landed short, continued onto runway and flipped over. (.4)the student pilot turned onto final approach for… 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.