# NTSB WPR13CA381: Cessna 172E, N516MA, Meeteetse, WY, August 20, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 20, 2013, 15:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Meeteetse, WY - Coordinates: 43.8875, -109.32611 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.8875&lon=-109.3261&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-climb to cruise: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report November 19, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 87827 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR13CA381 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87827/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87827 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA381 ## Probable cause The student pilot's inadequate preflight planning and failure to maintain clearance from rising terrain, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of situational awareness. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation: flight planning/navigation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna R172E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025/cases.md?model=2072413), [All aircraft, 179 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna R172E, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=2072413), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna R172E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=2072413), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Perception/orientation/illusion: situational awareness](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022035): Personnel issues › Psychological · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna R172E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022035/cases.md?model=2072413), [All aircraft, 111 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022035/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Course deviation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/281); cases with it: [Cessna R172E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/281/sequence.md?model=2072413), [All aircraft, 52 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/281/sequence.md) - [Enroute-climb to cruise: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna R172E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=2072413), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot reported that while on a solo cross-country flight she was using dead reckoning through the mountains. The pilot was unsure of her location and as she proceeded to the west, the mountainous terrain became steeper, which required her to ascend from 7,500 feet mean sea level (msl) to 8,500 feet msl. The student stated that being unable to clear the rising terrain in her flight path and unable to turn the airplane around, she elected to make a landing. During the approach a gust of wind hit the right wing, which resulted in the nose landing gear impacting the rocky terrain. The airplane nosed over and sustained substantial damage to both wings and the empennage. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or the engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The student pilot reported that while on a solo cross-country flight she was using dead reckoning through the mountains. The pilot was unsure of her location and as she proceeded to the west, the mountainous terrain became steeper, which required her to ascend from 7,500 feet mean sea level (msl) to 8,500 feet msl. The student stated that being unable to clear the rising terrain in her flight path and unable to turn the airplane around, she elected to make a landing. During the approach a gust of wind hit the right wing, which resulted in the nose landing gear impacting the rocky terrain. The airplane nosed over and sustained substantial damage to both wings and the empennage. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or the engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N516MA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N516MA-2014-12-18), registration cancelled 2014-12-18, S/N R172-0174, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172E - Registry model: [Cessna R172E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-r172e) (registry code 2072413) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-360-series) (registry code 17025, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: R172-0174 - Airframe hours: 7492 - Engines: Continental Motors Inc. IO-360 210 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 21, 2013, 33 hours before - Departed: GEY, Greybull, WY - Destination: 5U7, Fort Smith, MT - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 17; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 42 total, 35 in this make and model, 4 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: COD, 43 nm away ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 22, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87827. 9.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 8.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40400691&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Accident Site Maps (item 2, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40400687&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Site%20Maps-Master.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.