Gallup Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

East Glacier, Montana 59434
Saturday, June 15, 1991 21:20 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT OF THE CESSNA 175 STATED THAT THE WIND WAS BLOWING DOWN THE RUNWAY AT THIRTY TO FORTY KNOTS, WITH MODERATE TURBULENCE WHEN HE ENTERED THE PATTERN AT THE PRIVATE GRASS AIRSTRIP. HE SELECTED HALF FLAPS AS HE TURNED FINAL APPROACH BUT RAISED THE FLAPS TO THE FULL UP POSITION BECAUSE HE FELT THE WINDS AND TURBULENCE HAD INCREASED. AS THE AIRCRAFT CROSSED THE THRESHOLD THE PILOT REDUCED POWER CAUSING THE STALL WARNING HORN TO ACTIVATE. THE PILOT IMMEDIATELY ADDED POWER, BUT THE AIRCRAFT LANDED HARD BEFORE HE COULD RECOVER.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THIS TYPE OF OPERATION.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/15/1991
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 2120
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City EAST GLACIER
Event State MONTANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 59434
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport GALLUP FIELD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 06
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 4900
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Dusk
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
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) 7
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 30
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 40
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1178
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 44220
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7468M
NTSB Number SEA91LA138
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 C175
Aircraft Series Identifier C175
Aircraft Serial Number 55768
Certified Max Gross Weight 2350
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name LOUIS A. SITZMANN JR
Aircraft Owner Street Address 305 2ND AVE
Aircraft Owner City E. GLACIER PARK
Aircraft Owner State MT
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 59434
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name LOUIS A. SITZMANN JR
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 305 2ND AVE
Operator City E. GLACIER PARK
Operator State MT
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 59434
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 No
Departure Airport Code BMC
Departure City BRIGHAM CITY
Departure State UT
Departure Country
Departure Time 1620
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
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 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 2600
Runway Width 90
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --