# NTSB ERA21LA219: Cessna 172RG, N9795B, Miami, FL, May 8, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: May 8, 2021, 11:46 local (15:46 UTC)
- Place: Miami, FL · 1900 ft down rwy 09R, 120 fr left of centerline in grass
- Coordinates: 25.643468, -80.435353 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.6435&lon=-80.4354&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 103096
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA219
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103096/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103096
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA219

## Probable cause

The collapse of the left main landing gear for reasons that could not be determined.

## Findings

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

- [Landing gear system: main landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172RG, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md?model=2072438), [All aircraft, 241 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/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 collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172RG, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2072438), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The flight instructor reported that during landing, and after touchdown, the brakes were applied and the left main landing gear “slowly collapsed rearward and up.” The airplane veered left, exited the runway, and came to rest in the grass, sustaining substantial damage to the left horizontal stabilizer and elevator. A post-accident examination of the airplane revealed that there were no hydraulic fluid leaks. After placing the airplane on jacks, the retractable landing gear operated normally via the landing gear handle and the manual emergency extension pump. Additionally, the landing gear warning horn and indicator lights functioned as designed. The examination revealed no evidence of any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9795B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9795B), registered now, S/N 172RG1042, built 1982 (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: 172RG1042
- Year built: 1982
- Airframe hours: 6769
- Engines: Lycoming O-360-F1A6 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Silver Express Co DBA, doing business as Flying Academy
- Registered owner: Silver Express Co DBA
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 16, 2020, 57 hours before
- Departed: MTH, Marathon, FL
- Destination: Same as departure
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: TMB, Miami Exec, runway 09R, 6,000 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Auto-pilot, Stall warning system, ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 25, 2021; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,074 total, 4 in this make and model, 1,049 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours
- Pilot-rated passenger; age 28; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, unknown; seat: left

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 80° at 17 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observed at: TMB
- METAR: METAR KTMB 081553Z 08017G21KT 10SM -RA FEW041 30/18 A3007 RMK AO2 SLP180 P0000 T03000183=

## 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 20210508003999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210508003999A), May 8, 2021: Cessna 172RG, Miami, FL, Substantial damage. Cessna 172RG N9795B 1982,f.o.b. 48 us gal. (3) souls o/b p.I.c. [privacy data omitted] C.f.I. ,left seat pax [privacy data omitted]p.p.l. , pax aft. Seat left…

## Docket (9 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 26, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103096. 264 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12706083&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01-01%206120_ERA21LA219_print_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot receiving instruction statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 11.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12706365&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01-02%20Pilot%20statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Flight instructor statement (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 421 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12706268&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01-03%20CFI%20statement_print_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record - wreckage examination (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12706441&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01-04%20%20MFR%20-%20Wreckage%20Examination%20Information%20from%20Operator_ERA21LA219-Rel.pdf
- Video recording - after accident landing gear operation - normal (item 5, MOV, 159 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12706093&FileExtension=MOV&FileName=01-05%20gear%20swing-Rel.MOV
- Video recording - after accident landing gear warning horn activation (item 6, MOV, 23.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12706375&FileExtension=MOV&FileName=01-06%20gear%20warning-Rel.MOV
- Video recording - after accident landing gear operation - manual extension (item 7, MOV, 57.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12706278&FileExtension=MOV&FileName=01-07%20manual%20operation-Rel.MOV
- Maintenance records excerpts (item 8, PDF, 4 pages, 6.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12706451&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=03-01%20Maintenence%20Records%20Excerpts_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigative photographs (item 9, PDF, 3 pages, 3 photos, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12706103&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=06-01-%20photo%20array_ERA21LA219_b-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.

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