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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

October 19, 1995 · Cessna 172N · N6477D

Laurel, MT

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
October 19, 1995
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Laurel, MT
Aircraft
Cessna 172N
Tail Number
N6477D
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
SEA96LA009

During a touch-and-go landing, the student pilot made an evasive maneuver on final approach to avoid a collision with a flock of geese. After a left turn toward a row of hangars, he determined that he would not be able to clear the hangars, so he reduced power and landed. During the rollout, the nose landing gear contacted a concrete block in a burrow pit next to the taxiway, and the airplane nosed over.

NTSB Probable Cause

the student pilot's improper planning/decision, which resulted in inadequate altitude/clearance from hangar buildings and a subsequent emergency landing, while attempting to evade a flock of geese. The flock of geese was a related factor.

Full Narrative

On October 19, 1995, at 1020 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 172, N6477D, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over after an evasive maneuver and off-runway landing at the Laurel, Montana airport. The student pilot, who was the sole occupant, was uninjured. No flight plan was filed for the flight which had departed Billings, Montana, about 1000 for Laurel, for a series of touch-and-go landings. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The ELT activated, but did not assist in locating the accident site. During a telephone interview, the pilot stated that he touched down on runway 22 in a right crosswind. A flock of geese flew in front of the aircraft from right to left, and he added full power for go-around and raised the flaps from 30 to 20 degrees. The aircraft departed the runway on the left side, and nosed over, damaging the wings, vertical fin, and tail cone. In a written statement, the pilot stated that he banked left in his evasive maneuver. He stated that when he leveled off, it was evident that he could not make it over the hangars in his flight path. He cut the power and landed, diagonally across the airport and taxiway. During rollout, the nose gear hit a concrete block in the burrow pit along the taxiway. The nose gear separated and the aircraft nosed over, causing substantial damage.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time10:20 MDT
Nearest AirportLaurel Municipal (0nm)
Runway22
Runway Length3775 ft
Runway Width50 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 172N
Tail NumberN6477D
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-H2AD · Reciprocating · 160
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 38 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind270° @ 13 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point45 C / 21 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time16:56
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data