What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On 5/18/2026, the aircraft departed knoxville, TN (ktys) on an IFR flight plan. Weather conditions were VFR with a slight tailwind. At approximately 12:32 pm EDT, the flight plan was canceled as the destination (ksvh) was in sight. The aircraft proceeded to the airport for landing on runway 28.
While maneuvering to enter the traffic pattern, multiple radio transmissions were made announcing the aircraft’s position and intention to enter a straight-in for the downwind leg. During this approach, another aircraft at ksvh announced they were "on the roll" from runway 28. The PIC of N177BT identified the departing traffic visually. The departing aircraft subsequently executed a left turn (crosswind) in front of privacy data omitted, approximately 500 feet below our altitude. The PIC of N177BT acknowledged the traffic and stated intent to follow.
During this sequence, it was observed that the departing aircraft continued to fly straight ahead rather than turning crosswind. Upon inquiry by N177BT regarding their intentions, the departing aircraft stated they would remain straight out before turning base.
The PIC of privacy data omitted became significantly distracted by the unconventional flight path and the ongoing coordination required with the other aircraft. Consequently, the PIC failed to execute the gumps (gas, undercarriage, mixture, propeller, seatbelts) landing checklist prior to final approach. At approximately 12:38 pm EDT, the aircraft touched down on runway 28 with the landing gear retracted.
The airport was closed for approximately 30 minutes to facilitate the removal of the aircraft from the runway. Once lifted, the landing gear was extended normally, and the aircraft was taxied to a hangar. No injuries were reported. Associated task number in sas is T-EA68-FY26-1625
As the FAA filed it
ON 5/18/2026, THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED KNOXVILLE, TN (KTYS) ON AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN. WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE VFR WITH A SLIGHT TAILWIND. AT APPROXIMATELY 12:32 PM EDT, THE FLIGHT PLAN WAS CANCELED AS THE DESTINATION (KSVH) WAS IN SIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT PROCEEDED TO THE AIRPORT FOR LANDING ON RUNWAY 28.
WHILE MANEUVERING TO ENTER THE TRAFFIC PATTERN, MULTIPLE RADIO TRANSMISSIONS WERE MADE ANNOUNCING THE AIRCRAFT’S POSITION AND INTENTION TO ENTER A STRAIGHT-IN FOR THE DOWNWIND LEG. DURING THIS APPROACH, ANOTHER AIRCRAFT AT KSVH ANNOUNCED THEY WERE "ON THE ROLL" FROM RUNWAY 28. THE PIC OF N177BT IDENTIFIED THE DEPARTING TRAFFIC VISUALLY. THE DEPARTING AIRCRAFT SUBSEQUENTLY EXECUTED A LEFT TURN (CROSSWIND) IN FRONT OF ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, APPROXIMATELY 500 FEET BELOW OUR ALTITUDE. THE PIC OF N177BT ACKNOWLEDGED THE TRAFFIC AND STATED INTENT TO FOLLOW.
DURING THIS SEQUENCE, IT WAS OBSERVED THAT THE DEPARTING AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO FLY STRAIGHT AHEAD RATHER THAN TURNING CROSSWIND. UPON INQUIRY BY N177BT REGARDING THEIR INTENTIONS, THE DEPARTING AIRCRAFT STATED THEY WOULD REMAIN STRAIGHT OUT BEFORE TURNING BASE.
THE PIC OF ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ BECAME SIGNIFICANTLY DISTRACTED BY THE UNCONVENTIONAL FLIGHT PATH AND THE ONGOING COORDINATION REQUIRED WITH THE OTHER AIRCRAFT. CONSEQUENTLY, THE PIC FAILED TO EXECUTE THE GUMPS (GAS, UNDERCARRIAGE, MIXTURE, PROPELLER, SEATBELTS) LANDING CHECKLIST PRIOR TO FINAL APPROACH. AT APPROXIMATELY 12:38 PM EDT, THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN ON RUNWAY 28 WITH THE LANDING GEAR RETRACTED.
THE AIRPORT WAS CLOSED FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES TO FACILITATE THE REMOVAL OF THE AIRCRAFT FROM THE RUNWAY. ONCE LIFTED, THE LANDING GEAR WAS EXTENDED NORMALLY, AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS TAXIED TO A HANGAR. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. ASSOCIATED TASK NUMBER IN SAS IS T-EA68-FY26-1625
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.