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DEN87LA027

1986-12-02 · GREAT FALLS, Montana, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport GTF

Current FAA registration · N4784A

Make / Model
CESSNA A152
Year of manufacture
1979 · 7 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING 0-235 SERIES (115 hp)
Seats / Engines
2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19790815
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A5E1B7

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Factual narrative

THE STUDENT PLT WAS CLEARED TO MAKE A TOUCH-&-GO LANDING ON RWY 21. AS HE WAS LNDG, HE NOTICED THE ARRESTING BARRIER (CABLE) WAS RAISED. HE ADDED FULL PWR & PULLED BACK ON THE YOKE TO AVOID HITTING THE CABLE. THE ACFT LIFTED OFF, BUT ITS TAIL HIT THE CABLE. AT THAT TIME, THE PLT WAS UNAWARE OF ANY DAMAGE, SO HE CONTINUED FLYING (MADE A GO-AROUND). HE ADVISED TOWER PSNL THAT THE BARRIER CABLE WAS UP & THEY LOWERED THE CABLE. AFTER LANDING, AN INSPN REVEALED THE TAIL TIE-DOWN WAS MISSING & THE REAR BULKHEAD WAS PARTIALLY RIPPED OUT & BENT AGAINST THE RUDDER. ATC HANDBOOK REQUIRED TOWER PERSONNEL TO KEEP THE ARRESTING GEAR IN THE RETRACTED OR DOWN POSITION FOR NORMAL OPERATION. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1986_DEN87LA027.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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