# NTSB ERA17LA151: Cessna 414, N56H, Atlanta, GA, April 7, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 7, 2017, 12:50 local (16:50 UTC) - Place: Atlanta, GA · Paved runway - Coordinates: 33.776668, -84.525001 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7767&lon=-84.5250&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 94982 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA17LA151 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94982/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94982 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA151 ## Probable cause The pilot's diverted attention during the landing approach, which resulted in his failure to configure the landing gear and a subsequent a gear-up landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: landing gear selector](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023234): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not used/operated (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 414, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023234/cases.md?model=2075908), [All aircraft, 54 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023234/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: task monitoring/vigilance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 414, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md?model=2075908), [All aircraft, 330 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 414, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=2075908), [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-flare/touchdown: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 414, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=2075908), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Cessna 414, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2075908), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis While the pilot was approaching the airport for landing in gusting wind conditions, the landing runway was changed, and an airplane was cleared to takeoff while the pilot was on final approach. The pilot reported that he was distracted by the wind conditions, reconfiguring the approach for a different runway, and the airplane taking off ahead of him, and did not recall performing his normal before-landing procedures; though he "thought" that he extended the landing gear. The airplane landed with the gear retracted, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. The accident is consistent with the pilot's failure to configure the landing gear before landing. ## Factual narrative On April 7, 2017, at 1250 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 414, N56H, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Atlanta, Georgia. The airline transport pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot stated that, while approaching for landing in gusting wind conditions, the landing runway was changed from runway 26 to runway 32, and the pilot reconfigured the airplane for the new approach. While established on a 1-mile final at about 400 ft above field elevation, the controller cleared another airplane for takeoff. The pilot stated that he was preparing to conduct his before landing checks, and the other airplane on the runway presented a “big distraction.” He considered conducting a go-around, but concerned about obstacle avoidance during the go-around, he chose to continue the approach. The pilot stated that he thought he put the gear down, but could not recall performing his normal call-outs or confirming the before-landing checklist items, including the fuel selector, landing gear, and flaps. During the flare, he felt the airplane settle more than normal and he attempted to pull up, but the airplane settled firmly onto the runway and skidded to a stop. A witness reported that the airplane's landing gear was retracted as it approached the runway. The airplane landed, the propellers impacted the runway, and the airplane skidded to a stop. A post-accident examination conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed structural damage to the fuselage and damage to both engines and propellers. There were two sets of propeller slash marks in the runway from the initial impact point to where the airplane came to rest, a distance of about 650 ft. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N56H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N56H), registered now, S/N 414-0941, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 414 (UNDESIGNAT) - Registry model: [Cessna 414](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-414) (registry code 2075908) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 414-0941 - Year built: 1977 - Airframe hours: 4159 - Engines: CONT MOTOR TSIO-520 SER 350 horsepower reciprocating; CONT MOTOR TSIO-520 SER 350 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Aeromack LLC - Registered owner: Aeromack LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 8, 2017, 7 hours before - Departed: SSI, BRUNSWICK, GA - Destination: FTY, Atlanta, GA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: FTY, Fulton County Airport-Brown Fi, runway 32, 4,158 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 5,516 total, 582 in this make and model, 5,150 as pilot in command, 54 in the last 90 days, 36 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 17 knots, gusting 28 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: FTY, 1 nm away ## 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 20170407003519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170407003519A), Apr 7, 2017: Cessna 414, Atlanta, GA, Substantial damage. Aircraft landed in a gear-up condition. On scene at arrival it was noted the landing gear handle was in the down position and the landing gear motor circuit… ## Docket (9 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 12, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94982. 31.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 10.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9409495&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilots%206120%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation_pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 24 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9419780&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation_Pilot-Rel.pdf - Eyewitness statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 67 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9416235&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Eyewitness%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation_FAA (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11897670&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation_FAA-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation_mechanic (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 21 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9416760&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation_Mechanic-Rel.pdf - Airframe maintenance logbook_excerpt (item 6, PDF, 3 pages, 18.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9417695&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Airframe%20Maintenance%20Records_Excerpt_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Flight manual excerpt_before landing checklist (item 7, PDF, 2 pages, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11907818&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Landing%20Checklist-Rel.pdf - Record of weather (item 8, PDF, 1 page, 112 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9408978&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Weather-Rel.pdf - Photo array-accident site and airplane damage (item 9, PDF, 8 pages, 699 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9415444&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Site%20and%20Damage%20Photographs-Rel.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.