# NTSB WPR21LA067: Cessna 172, N46017, Dillon, MT, December 8, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 8, 2020, 08:50 local (15:50 UTC) - Place: Dillon, MT - Coordinates: 45.264859, -112.55151 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.2649&lon=-112.5515&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 102387 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR21LA067 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102387/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA067 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle attack during an attempted go-around, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172I, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=2072426), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172I, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=2072426), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Terrain: sloped/uneven terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172I, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md?model=2072426), [All aircraft, 270 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR go-around: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172I, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=2072426), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172I, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072426), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The solo student pilot reported that, while on final approach to land, he decided to initiate a go-around. He applied full power and pitched up the airplane, which then stalled and turned left about 90°. The pilot was able to recover from the stall, but the airplane was close to the ground. Subsequently he landed the airplane in an open field. The student saw an irrigation ditch ahead and attempted to become airborne again, but the airplane did not gain sufficient lift and subsequently impacted the ditch. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The student reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N46017](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N46017-2022-12-03), registration cancelled 2022-12-03, S/N 17256990, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 (I) - Registry model: [Cessna 172I](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172i) (registry code 2072426) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17256990 - Year built: 1968 - Airframe hours: 5377.2 - Engines: Lycoming 0-320-E2D 150 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Ridgeview Aviation - Registered owner: Martineau Aircraft - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 15, 2020, 62.6 hours before - Departed: BZN, Bozeman, MT - Destination: DLN, Dillon, MT - Airport: DLN, Dillon Airport, runway 17, 6,501 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 23; injuries: serious; student; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 49.2 total, 48.1 in this make and model, 6.7 as pilot in command, 39.6 in the last 90 days, 13.8 in the last 30 days, 1.4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 18 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 12 °F - Altimeter: 30.34 inHg - Icing: Unknown - Turbulence: Unknown - Observed at: KDLN - METAR: KDLN 081653Z AUTO 22018KT 10SM CLR 03/M11 A3034 RMK AO2 SLP287 T00331106 ## 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 20201208017469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201208017469A), Dec 8, 2020: Cessna 172I, Dillon, MT, Substantial damage. On the first leg of his solo long cross-country during landing on runway 17 in Dillon Montana, the pilot elected to go around approximately 40 feet off the… 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.