# NTSB CEN10LA128: Cessna 172RG, N5404V, Lockhart, TX, February 21, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 21, 2010, 13:45 local (19:45 UTC) - Place: Lockhart, TX - Coordinates: 29.850276, -97.6725 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.8503&lon=-97.6725&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 22, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 75411 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10LA128 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75411/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75411 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10LA128 ## Probable cause The flight instructor’s failure to use the emergency checklist, and his failure to extend the landing gear manually. Contributing to the accident was the electrical failure/malfunction for reasons undetermined. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) - [Electrical power system: battery/charger](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022432): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Damaged/degraded; cases with it: [All aircraft, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022432/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Electrical system malf/failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/332); cases with it: [All aircraft, 182 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/332/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that after departure during an instructional flight, the landing gear was slow to retract, the radios made “clicking noises,” “flickered” and began to fail, and the fuel gauges registered near empty. The flight instructor assumed control of the airplane. During the landing approach, he attempted to lower the flaps, but there was no response. He instructed the student pilot to lower the landing gear. He said there was no warning horn or annunciator light to indicate that the gear was either up or down. He did not say whether he or the student pilot looked outside to see if the landing gear appeared to be down and locked. The airplane landed with the gear partially extended and veered off the right side of the runway into the grass. The outboard portion of the right wing and the right horizontal stabilizer and elevator were bent. The airplane was later ferried to a repair facility. According to the ferry pilot, he recharged the battery and flew uneventfully to the repair facility. The repair facility reported finding no anomalies with the airplane’s electrical system. ## Factual narrative On February 21, 2010, approximately 1345 central standard time, a Cessna 172RG, N5404V, registered to and operated by Mach II Aviation Services, Inc., doing business as Wright Flyers Aviation, of San Antonio, Texas, was substantially damaged when it landed with the landing gear partially extended at Lockhart Municipal Airport (50R), Lockhart, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The instructional flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 without a flight plan. The flight instructor and pilot receiving instruction were not injured. The flight originated at New Braunfels Municipal Airport (BAZ), New Braunfels, Texas, approximately 1330. According to the flight instructor's accident report, it took approximately 10 to 15 seconds for the landing gear to retract after taking off from New Braunfels. As they approached Lockhart, the instructor heard a "clicking sound" on the radio, and the second pilot began having communications difficulties. Shortly thereafter, the radios began to "flicker" and started to fail. He then noticed the fuel gauges registered almost empty. The flight instructor took control of the airplane. In preparation for landing, he attempted to lower the flaps, but there was no response. He instructed the second pilot to lower the landing gear. He said there was no warning horn or annunciator light to indicate that the gear was either up or down. He did not say whether he or the second pilot looked outside to see if the landing gear appeared to be down and locked. The airplane landed with the gear partially extended and veered off the right side of the runway into the grass. The outboard portion of the right wing and the right horizontal stabilizer and elevator were bent. After temporary repairs were made, the airplane was ferried to Beegles Aircraft Service, Greeley, Colorado, for permanent repairs. According to the ferry pilot, he recharged the battery prior to departing Lockhart, and flew uneventfully to Greeley. According to Beegles Aircraft Service, no anomalies were found with the airplane’s electrical system. In his accident report, the flight instructor said that the accident could have been prevented if he had "read the emergency checklist and performed the manual gear extension emergency checklist." ## Aircraft - Registration: N5404V (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172RG - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172RG0522 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-F1A6 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Mach II Aviation Services, Inc, doing business as Wright Flyers Aviation - Registered owner: Mach II Aviation Services, Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 10, 2009 - Departed: BAZ, New Braunfels, TX - Destination: 50R, Lockhart, TX - Airport: 50R, Lockhart Municipal, runway 36, 4,001 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 23; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 22, 2009; seat: right; flight hours: 515 total, 30 in this make and model, 409 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; age 29; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 23, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 262 total, 8 in this make and model, 204 as pilot in command, 68 in the last 90 days, 31 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 9 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 29.73 inHg - Observed at: BAZ ## 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 20100221027769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100221027769A), Feb 21, 2010: Cessna 172RG, Lockhart, TX, Substantial damage. On February 21, 2010, at 13:45 hours, a Cessna 172RG owned by mach ii aviation services inc. and operated by brett thomas verner, crashed at the Lockhart… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 4, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75411. 5.2 MB in all. - NTSB Form 6120.1-2, Pilot-Operator Aircraft Accident Report (item 1, .PDF, 658 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40327755&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120.1-2,%20Pilot-Operator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 9 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40327896&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Photo 1. Scrape marks on the runway. (item 3, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40327571&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.%20Scrape%20marks%20on%20the%20runway.-Master.PDF - Photo 2. N5404V after skidding to a halt. (item 4, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40327572&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202.%20N5404V%20after%20skidding%20to%20a%20halt.-Master.PDF - Photo 3. Damaged right horizontal stabilizer. (item 5, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40327573&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203.%20Damaged%20right%20horizontal%20stabilizer.-Master.PDF - Photo 4. Damaged right wing. (item 6, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40327574&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204.%20Damaged%20right%20wing.-Master.PDF 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.