No fatalities

Cessna 172 I accident at Dillon, MT, 8 Dec 2020

Dillon, MT, United States

On December 8, 2020, a Cessna 172 I operated by Ridgeview Aviation was involved in an aviation accident near Dillon, MT. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The student pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle attack during an attempted go-around, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

Probable cause

The student pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle attack during an attempted go-around, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

— NTSB Determination

Contributing factors

Angle of attack — Not attained/maintainedStudent/instructed pilotContributed to outcome

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 8 Dec 2020 Cessna 172 I accident near Dillon, MT?

The student pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle attack during an attempted go-around, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

Were there any fatalities in the 8 Dec 2020 Cessna 172 I accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 8 Dec 2020 involved a Cessna 172 I, operated by Ridgeview Aviation, at Dillon, MT.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The student pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle attack during an attempted go-around, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.