# Accident 19970622016359A: Cessna 172RG, Chicago, IL, June 22, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 22, 1997, 13:27 local time
- Place: Chicago, IL
- Airport: Merrill C Meigs
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.8697° N, 87.6508° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8697&lon=-87.6508&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6280R, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6280R) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172RG (registry code 2072438, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172rg) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series (registry code 41514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172RG
- Reported engine: LYC O360F1A6
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 265 total, 15 in this make and model, 9 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI97LA180](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA180) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970622016359A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.4)THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHILE HE WAS ON A DOWNWIND LEG FOR RUNWAY 18, HE COMPLETED THE LANDING CHECKLIST. HE SAID HE CHECKED THAT THE LANDING GEAR WAS LOCKED AND THE GREEN LIGHT WAS ON WHILE HE WAS ON THE BASE LEG. HE REPORTED THAT, 'AS I FLARED TO LAND, I HIT THE BELLY OF THE PLANE ON THE RUNWAY.' HE REPORTED THAT, 'BY THEN I REALIZED THAT THE AIRCRAFT'S LANDING GEAR HAD COLLAPSED, AND SLID DOWN THE RUNWAY.'  INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BELLY AREA, PARTICULARLY ON THE LOWER WING STRUT ATTACH BULKHEAD AND THE FORWARD LANDING GEAR BOX BULKHEAD. THE BELLY SKIN AND ASSOCIATED ATTACHING HARDWARE WERE GROUND OFF APPROXIMATELY THREE INCHES ON EITHER SIDE OF THE BULKHEADS. THE AIRCRAFT WAS PUT ON JACK STANDS. THE LANDING GEAR WAS CYCLED NUMEROUS TIMES WITH NO ANOMALIES INDICATED. THERE WERE NO SCRATCH MARKS OR DAMAGE TO THE LANDING GEAR, NOR ANY DAMAGE TO THE LANDING GEAR GEARBOX. BOTH TIRES EXHIBITED SCUFF MARKS ABOUT FOUR INCHES WIDE PERPENDICULAR TO THE TIRE TREAD, BUT NO ROTATIONAL SCUFFING OF THE TIRES WAS NOTED.                                                                                                                                  (-23) ON JUNE 22, 1997 N6280R, A CESSNA 172RG SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN THE PILOT FAILED TO LOWER THE LANDING GEAR FOR LANDING AT MEIGS FIELD (CGX), CHICAGO, IL. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE NOT INJURED.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CHI97LA180](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA180), Jun 22, 1997: Cessna 172RG (N6280R), Chicago, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot inadvertently executed a wheels up landing.

## Other reports on N6280R (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19890202006299I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890202006299I), Feb 2, 1989: Cessna 172RG (N6280R), Omaha, NE. Unable to retract gear after takeoff. Returned. Landed safely. Seals in nose strut replaced. Serviced nose strut.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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