# NTSB ERA13CA028: Cessna 172RG, N4939V, Mobile, AL, October 11, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 11, 2012, 12:04 local (16:04 UTC) - Place: Mobile, AL - Coordinates: 30.6375, -88.073608 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.6375&lon=-88.0736&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 March 13, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 85356 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA13CA028 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85356/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85356 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13CA028 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to perform the before landing checklist and extend the landing gear before touchdown. Contributing to the accident was the designated pilot examiner’s inadequate remedial action. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023200): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not used/operated (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172RG, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023200/cases.md?model=2072438), [All aircraft, 113 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023200/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of checklist](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172RG, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md?model=2072438), [All aircraft, 336 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172RG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=2072438), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/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) ## Analysis According to the pilot, the purpose of the flight was to complete a commercial single-engine land checkride with a designated pilot examiner. During the straight-in landing approach, the pilot selected full flaps and reduced the engine power to idle in order to descend but did not use the before landing checklist and did not extend the landing gear. When the airplane was over the runway threshold, the pilot verified that the throttle was at idle and began to flare. Neither the pilot nor the designated pilot examiner verified that the landing gear was extended before the landing. The airplane landed on the runway without the landing gear extended, which resulted in substantial damage to the airframe. Both pilots reported that they did not hear the landing gear warning horn before landing. According to a mechanic, when the battery switch was turned on during the recovery of the airplane, the landing gear warning horn sounded normally. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. In addition, the pilot noted that the accident could have been prevented if he had completed the before landing checklist. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, the purpose of the flight was to complete a commercial single-engine land checkride with a designated pilot examiner. During the straight in landing approach, the pilot selected full flaps and reduced the engine power to idle in order to descend, but did not use the before landing checklist and did not extend the landing gear. Over the runway threshold, the pilot verified the throttle was at idle and began to flare the airplane. Prior to landing, the designated pilot examiner did not verify that the landing gear was extended. Subsequently, the airplane landed on the runway without the landing gear extended which resulted in substantial damage to the airframe. Both pilots reported that they did not hear the landing gear warning horn prior to landing without the landing gear extended. According to a mechanic, during the recovery of the airplane, when the battery switch was turned on, the landing gear warning horn sounded. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. In addition, pilot noted that the before landing checklist was not completed and the accident could have been prevented if it had been completed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4939V](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4939V), registered now, S/N 172RG0420, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172RG - Registry model: [Cessna 172RG](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172rg) (registry code 2072438) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172RG0420 - Airframe hours: 6290 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-E1A6 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Flight Training Of Mobile LLC - Registered owner: Flight Training Of Mobile LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 4, 2012 - Departed: BFM, Mobile, AL - Destination: BFM, Mobile, AL - Airport: BFM, Mobile Downtown Airport, runway 32, 9,618 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 23; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 16, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 343 total, 17 in this make and model, 238 as pilot in command - Check pilot; age 68; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: right; flight hours: 16,000 total, 400 in this make and model, 90 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.26 inHg - Observed at: BFM ## 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 20121011023819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20121011023819A), Oct 11, 2012: Cessna 172RG, Mobile, AL, Substantial damage. On October 11, 2012, at approximately 1115 local [privacy data omitted] initiated a landing while completing a checkride at Mobile downtown airport (kbfm).… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 1, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85356. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 379 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40379761&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 100 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40379762&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Designated Pilot Examiner Statement (item 3, .PDF, 73 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40379765&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Designated%20Pilot%20Examiner%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Mechanic Statement (item 4, .PDF, 99 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40379764&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Mechanic%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Cessna 172RG Before Landing Checklist (item 5, .PDF): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40379938&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Cessna%20172RG%20Before%20Landing%20Checklist-Master.PDF - BFM Weather Observations (item 6, .PDF, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40379746&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=BFM%20Weather%20Observations-Master.PDF - Photo 1: Damage to underside of fuselage (Courtesy of FAA) (item 7, .PDF, 268 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40379783&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Damage%20to%20underside%20of%20fuselage%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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.