Probable cause
The student pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed during landing which resulted in a stall.
NTSB analysis
The student pilot had finished his flight lesson and was returning solo to his departure airport. He observed the windsock and noted that the wind was directly down the runway at approximately 15 to 20 knots. The pilot said that as he entered the flare, he was slow and the left wing stalled, then dropped, and, the left wing and main landing gear touched the runway. The student pilot applied power and the airplane ended up approximately 90 degrees to the runway and 8 feet above ground level, off of the runway surface. The left wing then collided with the windsock pole and sustained substantial damage. No mechanical anomalies were noted.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for SEA08CA132 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- May 10, 2008
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Big Timber, Montana
- Nearest airport
- Big Timber Airport (6S0)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna 172
- N-number
- N8103E
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.