Cessna 172 N46017

Summary

On 8 December 2020 at about 15:50 local time, a Cessna 172 registered N46017, operated by Ridgeview Aviation, was involved in an accident near Dillon, Montana, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

8 December 2020 at 15:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Dillon, Montana, United States

Nearest airport

Dillon Airport (DLN)

Coordinates

45.2649, -112.5515

Aircraft

Cessna 172

Registration

N46017

Category

Airplane

Year built

1968

Engines

1

Operator

Ridgeview Aviation

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Bozeman → Dillon

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR21LA067

1 person was seriously injured.

The student pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle attack during an attempted go-around, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.