Sturgis Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Sturgis, South Dakota 57785
Friday, November 11, 2011 9:05 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The flight instructor stated that during the student pilot’s second solo landing, the airplane’s flaps were not retracted before the next takeoff. After takeoff, the airplane pitched up to a 60-degree nose-up attitude. According to the flight instructor, the airplane’s engine sounded like it was developing full power. The airplane entered a half-turn spin and impacted the terrain vertically. Postaccident examination showed that the flaps were extended and revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction or anomaly that would have precluded normal operation. Toxicology tests detected acetaminophen and diphenhydramine in the pilot's urine. Although diphenhydramine can cause drowsiness, the investigation could not determine whether it contributed to the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The student pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during takeoff with extended flaps.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/11/2011
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 905
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City Sturgis
Event State SOUTH DAKOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 57785
Event Date Year 2011
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 442505N
Event Location Longitude 1032231W
Event Location Airport Sturgis Municipal Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 49B
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 3243
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 855 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 145
Weather Observation Facility ID RCA
Elevation of weather observation facility 3278
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 20
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 11
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -10
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 240
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.76
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KRCA 111555Z AUTO 24005KT 10SM CLR 11/M10 A2
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 30495
NTSB Notification Source FAA-AGL-ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 5 2012 1:33PM
User who most recently changed record hopj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N13584
NTSB Number CEN12LA059
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 172M
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 17262858
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 15 2011 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 24
Airframe Hours 6570.3
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name BEAR BUTTE FLYING CLUB
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City STURGIS
Aircraft Owner State SD
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 57785-0145
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name BEAR BUTTE FLYING CLUB
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City STURGIS
Operator State SD
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 57785-0145
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 49B
Departure City Sturgis
Departure State SD
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 800
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code 49B
Destination City Sturgis
Destination State SD
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 22 2012 5:31PM
User who most recently changed record male
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 29
Runway Length 5100
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --