# NTSB CEN20LA095: Cessna 177RG, N2763V, Chesterfield, MO, February 19, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 18, 2020, 18:50 local (Feb 19, 2020, 00:50 UTC) - Place: Chesterfield, MO - Coordinates: 38.657222, -90.651107 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6572&lon=-90.6511&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: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards - NTSB case key (mKey): 100975 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20LA095 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100975/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100975 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA095 ## Probable cause The flight instructor’s and student pilot’s failure to ensure that the landing gear was extended before landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: gear extension and retract sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not used/operated (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 177RG, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=2073709), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 177RG, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=2073709), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 177RG, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=2073709), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 177RG, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=2073709), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 177RG, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=2073709), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 177RG, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=2073709), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) - [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Cessna 177RG, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2073709), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor and student pilot both reported verifying that the landing gear selector handle was in the down position when the airplane was on final approach. The flight instructor observed that the gear-down indicator light was illuminated, and he saw out the right-side window that the right main landing gear was fully extended. The student pilot noted the landing touchdown was "soft"; however, the landing gear collapsed after touchdown. Postaccident examination of the landing gear system did not reveal any anomalies consistent with a malfunction of the landing gear extension system that would preclude normal operation. Damage to the nose landing gear doors and the main landing gear strut steps was consistent with the landing gear being fully retracted when the fuselage contacted the runway pavement. The main wheel tires also lacked abnormal wear or abrasion, consistent with the gear being retracted. This evidence suggests that despite recalling that the landing gear was extended, the flight instructor and student failed to ensure that the landing gear was fully extended before landing. ## Factual narrative On February 18, 2020, about 1850 central standard time, a Cessna 177RG airplane, N2763V, sustained substantial damage during landing at the Spirit of St. Louis Airport (SUS), Chesterfield, Missouri. The student pilot and flight instructor were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The flight instructor reported the landing gear selector handle was down and the gear down indicator (green) light was illuminated on short final. The right main landing gear appeared to be fully extended when viewed out the right-side window. After the airplane touched down on the runway, the landing gear collapsed. The student pilot reported the flight instructor stated "green clear to land" as the airplane crossed the airport perimeter fence on final approach. The student pilot completed a before landing "GUMPS" check and placed his hand on the landing gear handle to ensure it was in the down position. Landing touchdown was "soft;" however, the airplane started "sinking" during the rollout. The belly of the airplane subsequently contacted the ground. A postaccident examination of the landing gear system was conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector with assistance from a local maintenance facility. The airplane was placed on jacks and the landing gear was retracted and extended 5 times with no anomalies noted. The landing gear system functioned normally, locking in both the up and down positions. The cockpit gear position indicator lights operated normally. The landing gear was actuated using the emergency extension system with no anomalies observed. The airplane sustained extensive scraping damage to the lower fuselage, which included the aft, exterior portion of the nose landing gear doors, and the forward, outboard portion of the steps installed on the main landing gear struts. The main wheel tires appeared to exhibit normal wear and without any transverse abrasion. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2763V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2763V-2021-12-04), registration cancelled 2021-12-04, S/N 177RG0687 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 177RG (No Series) - 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: 177RG0687 - Year built: 1975 - Airframe hours: 4231 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 15, 2019, 56 hours before - Departed: SUS, Chesterfield, MO - Destination: SUS, Chesterfield, MO - Airport: SUS, Spirit of St. Louis, runway 26R, 5,000 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 51; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 57 total, 48 in this make and model, 14 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days - Flight instructor; age 60; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 1, 2018; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 4,322 total, 11 in this make and model, 4,163 as pilot in command, 73 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 360° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.37 inHg - Observed at: SUS ## 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 20200218000519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200218000519A), Feb 18, 2020: Cessna 177RG, Chesterfield, MO, Substantial damage. A student pilot and instructor pilot were practicing night landings to a full stop. The student and instructor pilot stated the approach was normal and gear… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 31, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100975. 5.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40485655&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Flight Instructor Information (item 2, .PDF, 555 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40485656&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Flight%20Instructor%20Information-Master.PDF - Flight Instructor Statement (item 3, .PDF, 56 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40485657&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Flight%20Instructor%20Statement-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 4, .PDF, 109 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40485658&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (item 5, .PDF, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40485659&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos-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.