# NTSB DFW08CA227: Cessna 172RG, N9783B, Almogordo, NM, September 4, 2008

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: September 3, 2008, 21:20 local (Sep 4, 2008, 03:20 UTC)
- Place: Almogordo, NM
- Coordinates: 32.879013, -105.949913 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8790&lon=-105.9499&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: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 13, 2009
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 68901
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW08CA227
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68901/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW08CA227

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to extend the airplane's landing gear before landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172RG, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=2072438), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md)
- [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 172RG, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=2072438), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/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 172RG, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=2072438), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 172RG, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072438), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)

## Analysis

Following a 78-nautical-mile cross-country flight, the pilot forgot to extend the airplane's landing gear before landing. As the airplane veered off the runway the left wingtip impacted the ground resulting in substantial damage. The airplane came to rest in an upright position and the pilot was able to exit the airplane unassisted. The pilot was fatally injured four days later in a separate airplane accident; therefore, an NTSB 6120.1 form was not submitted.

## Factual narrative

Following a 78 nautical mile cross-country flight the pilot forgot to extend the airplane's landing gear before landing. As the airplane veered off the runway the left wing tip impacted the ground resulting in substantial damage. The airplane came to rest in an upright position and the pilot was able to exit the airplane unassisted. The pilot was fatally injured four days later in a separate airplane accident; therefore, a NTSB 6120.1 form was not submitted.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9783B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9783B-2010-10-25), registration cancelled 2010-10-25, S/N 172RG1033, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172RG
- Registry model: [Cessna 172RG](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172rg) (registry code 2072438) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-360-A1D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-360-a1d) (registry code 41504, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 172RG1033
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1D 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Spencer Aviation LLC
- Registered owner: Spencer Aviation LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: ROW, Roswell, NM
- Destination: ALM, Alamogordo, NM
- Flight plan: Unknown
- Airport: ALM, White Sands Regional, runway 21, 7,006 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 4,750 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night
- Wind: 70° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observed at: ALM

## 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 20080903844579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080903844579A), Sep 3, 2008: Cessna 172RG, Alamogordo, NM, Substantial damage. (-23) On September 3, 2008 at 2120 MDT, N9783B, a Cessna 172G, made a gear up landing at the Alamogordo, NM airport (alm). The pipeline patrol aircraft was…

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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