# NTSB ERA26LA213: Cessna 177RG, N177BT, Statesville, NC, May 18, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 18, 2026, 12:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Statesville, NC - Coordinates: 35.764901, -80.952528 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.7649&lon=-80.9525&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 September 3, 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): 203047 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA213 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203047/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203047 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA213 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to extend the landing gear prior to 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 177RG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023234/cases.md?model=2073709), [All aircraft, 54 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023234/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 177RG, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md?model=2073709), [All aircraft, 336 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md) - [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 177RG, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=2073709), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/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 177RG, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=2073709), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) - [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Cessna 177RG, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2073709), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was approaching the traffic pattern at his destination airport. A pilot from another airplane announced they were taking off from the same runway as the intended landing. After takeoff, the other airplane entered the downwind leg ahead of the pilot. The pilot got distracted by the other airplane now ahead of him and forgot to complete the before landing checklist. He subsequently landed without extending the landing gear, resulting in substantial damage to the lower fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operations. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N177BT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N177BT), registered now, S/N 177RG1194, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 177RG - Registry model: [Cessna 177RG](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177rg) (registry code 2073709) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-a1b6d) (registry code 41593, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 177RG1194 - Year built: 1977 - Airframe hours: 5890 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1B6D 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Plane Data Inc - Registered owner: Plane Data Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 6, 2026, 36 hours before - Departed: TYS, Knoxville, TN - Destination: Same as departure - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: SVH, Statesville Regional Airport, runway 28, 7,003 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, waiver time limited special; last flight review November 5, 2025; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 3,669 total, 3,561 in this make and model, 3,561 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.28 inHg - Observed at: SVH - METAR: METAR KSVH 181635Z AUTO 25010KT 10SM CLR 30/17 A3028 RMK AO2 T03000172 ## 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 20260518007409I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260518007409I), May 18, 2026: Cessna 177RG, Statesville, NC, Minor damage. On 5/18/2026, the aircraft departed knoxville, TN (ktys) on an IFR flight plan. Weather conditions were VFR with a slight tailwind. At approximately 12:32 pm… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 3, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203047. 2.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20645912&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photograph (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 443 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20645315&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photograph-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.