# NTSB GAA17CA197: Cessna R182, N747AB, Colorado Springs, CO, March 18, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 18, 2017, 17:16 local (23:16 UTC) - Place: Colorado Springs, CO - Coordinates: 38.820556, -104.715835 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8206&lon=-104.7158&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 15, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 94896 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA197 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94896/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94896 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA197 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to complete the landing checklist and to extend the landing gear before touchdown. ## 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: [Cessna R182, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=2072734), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna R182, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=2072734), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/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 R182, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md?model=2072734), [All aircraft, 336 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna R182, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=2072734), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095); cases with it: [Cessna R182, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=2072734), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the retractable-landing-gear airplane reported that, during the approach of a simulated 180° power-off landing, he became fixated on his touchdown point and did not complete the landing checklist. He added that he did not look outside to check that the main landing gear was down or to "confirm a green [landing gear position indicator] light." The airplane landed with the gear retracted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. In a followup e-mail, the pilot reported that he was using an active noise reducing headset during the accident flight. He added that, although the gear warning horn was audible, it did not translate in his brain as a landing gear retracted warning. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the retractable landing gear airplane reported that during the approach of a simulated 180° power off landing, he became fixated on his touchdown point and did not complete the landing checklist. He added that he did not look outside to check that the main landing gear was down or to "confirm a green [landing gear position indicator] light". The airplane landed with the gear retracted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. In a follow up email correspondence, the pilot reported that he was using an active noise reducing headset during the accident flight. He added that although the gear warning horn was audible, it did not translate in his brain as a landing gear retracted warning. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N747AB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N747AB), registered now, S/N R18201302, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA R182 - Registry model: [Cessna R182](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-r182) (registry code 2072734) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-540-J3C5D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-540-j3c5d) (registry code 42361, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: R18201302 - Year built: 1979 - Airframe hours: 3931.2 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-J3C5D 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, January 31, 2017 - Departed: COS, Colorado Springs, CO - Destination: COS, Colorado Springs, CO - Airport: COS, City Of Colorado Springs Muni, runway 17R, 11,022 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 4, 2016; seat: left; flight hours: 248 total, 87 in this make and model, 177 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 12 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: KCOS, 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 20170318011059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170318011059A), Mar 18, 2017: Cessna R182, Colorado Spring, CO, Substantial damage. On 03/18/2017 at 1716 MDT, N747AB, a Cessna 182 airplane, landed gear up at Colorado springs airport. There was one person on board. No injuries. The aircraft… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 19, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94896. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 849 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40451229&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 123 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40451230&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 3, .PDF, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40451231&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 1 photo, 112 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40451232&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo%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.