# NTSB DEN89LA183: Cessna 177RG, N8203G, Brighton, CO, August 4, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 4, 1989, 09:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place: Brighton, CO
- Coordinates: 39.950557, -104.789611 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9506&lon=-104.7896&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 5, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17757
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN89LA183
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17757/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN89LA183

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE LANDING GEAR DOWN LOCK, WHICH ALLOWED THE LANDING GEAR TO COLLAPSE DURING THE LANDING.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,gear locking mechanism - failure,total (cause)

## Analysis

THE PLT TOOK OFF ON A FLT FROM HECKENDORF RANCH STRIP (CO13) TO VAN AIRE ARPT (CO12), WHICH WAS NEARBY, TO LOAD THE ACFT & PROCEED ON ANOTHER FLT. BEFORE LANDING (AT CO12), HE MOVED THE GEAR SELECTOR DOWN & NOTED A SAFE INDICATOR LIGHT. AT TOUCHDOWN, BOTH MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED & THE PLANE TRACKED OFF THE RWY TO THE LEFT. AFTER LEAVING THE RWY, THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED IN THE DIRT & THE WINGS & FUSELAGE WERE DAMAGED. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE DOWN LOCK SPRING HAD FAILED & ALLOWED THE DOWNLOCK TO RELEASE AT TOUCHDOWN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8203G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8203G), registered now, S/N 177RG0103, built 1971 (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: 177RG0103
- Airframe hours: 1578
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1B6 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Lester E. & Ruth F. Stevens,Jr
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, June 27, 1989, 3 hours before
- Departed: CO13, BRIGHTON, CO
- Destination: CO12
- Airport: CO12, Van Aire, runway 30, 3,950 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 763 total, 58 in this make and model, 658 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F

## 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 19890804064959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890804064959A), Aug 4, 1989: Cessna 172RG, Brighton, CO, Substantial damage. All three gears collapsed on touchdown. Down lock spring had failed allowing down lock to release on touchdown.

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.

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