# Accident 20170728010129A: Merlin SA-26AT, Hondo, TX, July 28, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 28, 2017, 11:24 local time
- Place: Hondo, TX
- Airport: South Texas Regional
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 29.3592° N, 99.1678° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.3592&lon=-99.1678&mi=10
- Aircraft: N541GF, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N541GF) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Swearingen SA-26AT (registry code 8780112, https://openairdocs.org/model/swearingen-sa-26at) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: AiResearch 331 SER 605HP (registry code 01502, https://openairdocs.org/engine/airesearch-331-ser-605hp) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MERLIN SA-26AT
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,336 total, 43 in this make and model, 23 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA17CA457](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA457) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170728010129A

## Narrative

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

ON JULY 28, 2017, DURING A NEW AIRCRAFT FAMILIARIZATION FLIGHT, THE PILOT OF A MERLIN II  LANDED AT THE SOUTH TEXAS REGIONAL AIRPORT IN HONDO BUT FAILED TO LOWER THE LANDING GEAR. THE AIRCRAFT SKIDDED DOWN THE RUNWAY1650 FEET BEFORE VEERING RIGHT AND STOPPING PARTIALLY INTO THE GRASS.

THE AIRCRAFT RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.

THERE WERE NO INJURIES.

## 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 GAA17CA457](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA457), Jul 28, 2017: Swearingen SA26 (N541GF), Hondo, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to extend the landing gear before landing.

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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