# NTSB BFO96LA017: Cessna 177RG, N2132Q, College Park, MD, November 2, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 2, 1995, 10:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: College Park, MD - Coordinates: 38.990226, -76.929695 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9902&lon=-76.9297&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 29, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9110 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO96LA017 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9110/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO96LA017 ## Probable cause the main landing gear retracted for undetermined reasons. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Gear retraction on ground, landing - roll - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - ditch ## Analysis The pilot reported that he activated the gear extension switch and visually confirmed that the main landing gear was extended. During the landing roll the main gear collapsed and the airplane veered off the runway and collided with a ditch. According to the pilot the touchdown was smooth and soft, but as he applied the brakes, he felt the nose rising and his seat getting lower to the ground. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction; the landing gear cycled normally. ## Factual narrative On November 2, 1995, at 1000 eastern standard time, N2132Q, a Cessna 177RG, sustained substantial damage when the main landing gear collapsed during landing on runway 15 at College Park Airport, College Park, Maryland. The certificated commercial pilot and the passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The local personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR 91. The pilot stated: "[The] Gear down switch was actuated and cycle appeared normal. Visual gear down on both sides, right side was witnessed...smooth and soft flare, smooth main contact with ground. Nice roll on all three gear, then upon application of brakes, felt a bump as if hitting a log on runway, then a sense of the nose rising, which was actually the seat getting lower and lower towards the ground. Aircraft doing approx. 30 mph left runway...came to stop leaning to the left." According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector, when the landing gear collapsed, the aircraft veered off the runway and collided with a ditch. The aircraft was removed and sent to a repair facility for further examination. The examination included cycling the gear. The gear operated satisfactorily during the examination. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2132Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2132Q), registered now, S/N 177RG0532, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 177RG - Registry model: [Cessna 177RG](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177rg) (registry code 2073709) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-a1b6d) (registry code 41593, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 177RG0532 - Airframe hours: 3666 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1B6D 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Hiram Lopez - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 15, 1994, 115 hours before - Departed: CGS - Flight plan: VFR/IFR - Airport: CGS, College Park, runway 15, 2,610 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 4,184 total, 1,310 in this make and model, 11 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 8 knots - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 800 ft broken - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: BWI, 17 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19951102035609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19951102035609A), Nov 2, 1995: Cessna 177RG, College Park, MD, Substantial damage. Reported visual check gear down but mains folded on landing roll. No anomalies. Possible inadvertent retraction. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.