# NTSB ERA26LA182: Donald E Johnston Velocity XL-RG, N621CM, Crestview, FL, April 17, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 17, 2026, 10:52 local (15:52 UTC) - Place: Crestview, FL - Coordinates: 30.778831, -86.522113 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.7788&lon=-86.5221&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 August 11, 2026 - 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): 202859 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA182 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202859/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202859 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA182 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to extend the landing gear before landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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: [Donald E Johnston VELOCITY XL-RG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=056331S), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Donald E Johnston VELOCITY XL-RG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=056331S), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/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: [Donald E Johnston VELOCITY XL-RG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=056331S), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) ## Analysis After performing a practice instrument approach, the pilot performed a touch-and-go landing and remained in the airport traffic pattern for another landing. The pilot reported that the traffic pattern was busy, and that he was focused on a much slower airplane flying ahead of him. The pilot stated that he would normally put the landing gear down on downwind, but due to the distraction of the other traffic, he forgot to extend the landing gear. During the landing, the airplane skidded down the runway with the landing gear retracted and exited into the adjacent grass area resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. The airplane was equipped with a landing gear position warning horn. The pilot stated that it was not wired through the intercom system, and that with his noise-canceling headset, it was rarely audible. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N621CM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N621CM), registered now, S/N 3RX166, built 2015 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: DONALD E JOHNSTON VELOCITY XL-RG - Registry model: [Donald E Johnston VELOCITY XL-RG](https://openairdocs.org/model/donald-e-johnston-velocity-xl-rg) (registry code 056331S) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-550-N](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-550-n) (registry code 17215, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 3RX166 - Year built: 2015 - Airframe hours: 374.4 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO-550-N 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, October 23, 2025 - Departed: BCR, Bonifay, FL - Destination: BCR, Bonifay, FL - Airport: CEW, Bob Sikes, runway 17, 8,006 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Data recorder ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 8, 2026; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 6,341 total, 140 in this make and model, 4,750 as pilot in command, 172 in the last 90 days, 72 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: CEW - METAR: METAR KCEW 171553Z AUTO 09004KT 10SM CLR 27/17 A3012 RMK AO2 SLP196 T02720167= ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Incident 20260417004039I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260417004039I), Apr 17, 2026: Donald E Johnston VELOCITY XL-RG, Crestview, FL, Minor damage. Pilot failed to lower the landing gear before landing on runway 17 at kcew. Aircraft touched down and slid off runway near taxiway A3 and A4 ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 10, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202859. 10.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 4.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20643739&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=621CM%20form%206120.1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 6.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20644385&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Velocity%20Damage-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.