- Date
- June 21, 2010, 19:27 local (Jun 22, 2010, 01:27 UTC)
- Place
- Albuquerque, NM
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N9849CCessna R182RG
- Defining event
- Landing: Landing gear not configured
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 20, 2010
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA Flight SDtandards District Office
- FAA report
- 20100621036979A
- Case key
- 76421
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to lower the landing gear. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's distraction with an erroneous airspeed indicator.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
During the initial climb, the pilot noticed the airspeed indicator was erratic and not indicating a normal climb speed. After leveling off, the indicated airspeed was 70 to 80 knots. He compared this with the GPS (Global Positioning System) ground speed and noticed a "significant difference." Later, while circling a house, the airspeed "went to zero knots." The pilot returned for landing and mentally went through the GUMPs (gas, undercarriage, mixture, prop) checklist, but was distracted by the airspeed indicator and radio traffic. As he flared for landing and reduced power, he heard a horn sounding and mistook it for the marker beacon alert. The airplane landed wheels up. An examination of the pitot tube showed it was plugged with insects. No other anomalies were found.
Factual narrative
According to the pilot's accident report, during the initial climb from Albuquerque Sunport (ABQ), New Mexico, he noticed the airspeed indicator was erratic and not indicating a normal climb speed. After leveling off, the indicated airspeed was 70 to 80 knots. He compared this with the GPS (Global Positioning System) ground speed and noticed a "significant difference." Later, while circling a house, the airspeed "went to zero knots." The pilot returned for landing at ABQ. He said he mentally went through the GUMPs (gas, undercarriage, mixture prop) checklist but was distracted by the airspeed indicator and radio traffic. As he flared for landing and reduced power, he heard a horn sounding and mistook it for the marker beacon alert. The airplane landed wheels up. A post-accident examination revealed the airplane's fuselage skin and U-shaped former (where the lift struts attach) were ground down, necessitating replacement. An examination of the pitot tube showed it was plugged with insects.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9849C
- Reported as
- Cessna R182RG
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- R18200469
- Airframe hours
- 4,093
- Engine
- Lycoming O-540-J3C5D, 235 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- 377 Morale Welfare Rcreational Services Aero Club
- Registered owner
- 377 Morale Welfare Rcreational Services Aero Club
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · January 22, 2010 · 72 hours before
- Departed
- ABQ · Albuquerque, NM
- Destination
- ABQ · Albuquerque, NM
- Flight plan
- Unknown
- Airport
- ABQ · Albuquerque Intl. Sunport, runway 08, 13,793 × 150 ft, concrete
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 38
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter, Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- April 7, 2010
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 3,100 total · 400 in this make and model · 2,000 as pilot in command · 60 in the last 90 days · 20 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 190° at 12 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 93 °F, dew point 12 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.98 inHg
- Observed at
- ABQ
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 20, 2010, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 522 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.