Yankton/Chan Gurney Muni Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Yankton, South Dakota 57078
Sunday, September 28, 1997 17:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

In a written statement, the pilot reported that the winds were reported between 280 and 290 at 18 knots with gusts to 20. While on final for runway 31, the airplane was configured with no flaps extended, at an airspeed of 75 knots. The airplane touched down on the upwind wheel first, then 'gently lifted off the runway.' Soon after, the airplane banked to the left to a heading approximately 20 to 30 degrees left of the runway centerline. The pilot reports that he corrected to the right, but by this time the airplane was over the grass between the runway and the taxiway. Shortly thereafter, the airplane collided with the terrain. It rocked over onto the nose before settling back onto the main gear. In a verbal statement, the pilot said that he may have been 'relieved' to be on the ground following the initial touchdown, causing him to relax his crosswind correction.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the aircraft. A factor contributing to the accident was the wind gusts.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/28/1997
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1700
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City YANKTON
Event State SOUTH DAKOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 57078
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport YANKTON/CHAN GURNEY MUNI
Event Location Nearest Airport ID YKN
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 1300
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1654 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID YKN
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 290
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 22
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 27
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 437
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 29 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1721
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:33PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N52419
NTSB Number CHI97LA303
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 172P
Aircraft Series Identifier 172P
Aircraft Serial Number 17274512
Certified Max Gross Weight 2400
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 21 1997 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 81
Airframe Hours 6090
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name FALCON AVIATION, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 702 EAST 31ST STREET
Aircraft Owner City YANKTON
Aircraft Owner State SD
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 57078
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code YKN
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1600
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code YKN
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 31
Runway Length 6100
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --