Cessna 172 accident near Dillon, Montana, December 8, 2020
On December 8, 2020 at about 3:50 pm local time, a 1968 Cessna 172, registered N46017, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Dillon, Montana (Dillon Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle attack during an attempted go-around, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 8, 2020 · about 3:50 pm local time
- Place
- Dillon, Montana · Dillon Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 I, built 1968 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N46017 · no longer on the register · serial 17256990
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The solo student pilot reported that, while on final approach to land, he decided to initiate a go-around. He applied full power and pitched up the airplane, which then stalled and turned left about 90°. The pilot was able to recover from the stall, but the airplane was close to the ground. Subsequently he landed the airplane in an open field. The student saw an irrigation ditch ahead and attempted to become airborne again, but the airplane did not gain sufficient lift and subsequently impacted the ditch. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The student reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during approach (VFR go-around)
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Student/instructed pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Sloped/uneven terrain › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 49.2 hours in all; 48.1 in this make and model; 39.6 in the last 90 days; 13.8 in the last 30 days; 6.7 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,377.2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 15, 2020; 62.6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 0-320-E2D (piston); 4,447 hours total
- Operator: Ridgeview Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: BZN Bozeman MT at 2:41 pm
- Destination: DLN Dillon MT
- Runway 17, 6,501 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 18 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.34 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 am from KDLN
Weather report (METAR): KDLN 081653Z AUTO 22018KT 10SM CLR 03/M11 A3034 RMK AO2 SLP287 T00331106
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.