# NTSB WPR11CA439: Cessna 182D, N8772X, Roundup, MT, September 5, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 5, 2011, 07:15 local (13:15 UTC) - Place: Roundup, MT - Coordinates: 48.772777, -108.979721 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.7728&lon=-108.9797&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 3, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 81745 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR11CA439 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81745/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81745 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11CA439 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from an obstacle during the landing flare. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: task monitoring/vigilance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md?model=2072610), [All aircraft, 330 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: animal(s)/bird(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=2072610), [All aircraft, 358 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=2072610), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/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: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 180D, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072610), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Cessna 180D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2072610), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 180D, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072610), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that prior to landing on a dirt road he overflew the area, noting a group of cows nearby before entering a left-hand pattern for his intended landing area. During the landing flare, the pilot observed a cow approaching the flight path of the airplane from his left and attempted to maneuver the airplane to avoid a collision. Subsequently, the left main landing gear struck the cow and the airplane immediately veered to the left. Despite the pilot's control inputs, the airplane continued to the left, landed hard, bounced, and settled back onto the ground. A postaccident examination of the airplane by the pilot revealed structural damage to the left elevator, horizontal stabilizer, and engine firewall. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that prior to landing on a dirt road; he overflew the area, noting a group of cows nearby prior to entering a left-hand pattern for his intended landing area. During the landing flare, the pilot observed a cow approaching the flight path of the airplane from his left to right and attempted to maneuver the airplane to avoid a collision. Subsequently, the left main landing gear struck the cow and the airplane immediately veered to the left. Despite the pilot's control inputs, the airplane continued to the left, landed hard, bounced, and settled back onto the ground. Examination of the airplane by the pilot revealed structural damage to the left elevator, horizontal stabilizer, and engine firewall. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8772X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8772X), registered now, S/N 18253172, built 1960 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 182D - Registry model: [Cessna 180D](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180d) (registry code 2072610) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470R](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470r) (registry code 17071, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18253172 - Airframe hours: 4208 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Liedtka Mark T - Registered owner: Liedtka Mark T - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 21, 2011, 5 hours before - Departed: Roundup, MT - Destination: Roundup, MT ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 31, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 600 total, 200 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 29.85 inHg ## 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 20110905021409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110905021409A), Sep 5, 2011: Cessna 182D, Roundup, MT, Substantial damage. On September 5, 2011 at aprox 0715 am, a Cessna 182D, N8772X being flown by a [privacy data omitted], was attempting to land on a dirt road aprox. 20 miles… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 22, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81745. 7.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 7.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40354148&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.