# NTSB GAA17CA457: Swearingen SA26, N541GF, Hondo, TX, July 28, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 28, 2017, 11:15 local (16:15 UTC) - Place: Hondo, TX - Coordinates: 29.359167, -99.167778 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.3592&lon=-99.1678&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: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 14, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 95717 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA457 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95717/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95717 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA457 ## 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. - [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Swearingen SA-26AT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=8780112), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md) - [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: [Swearingen SA-26AT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=8780112), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/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: [Swearingen SA-26AT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=8780112), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of a retractable-landing gear-equipped airplane reported that he landed with the landing gear extended. He added that, during the landing, the airplane bounced, and the "landing gear retracted and the aircraft settled onto its belly." The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that he "may have failed to deploy the landing gear" and did not recall hearing the gear warning horn. A flight instructor witness reported that, while his student was performing an engine run-up, he saw the airplane on final about 400 ft from the threshold with the landing gear retracted. He added that he thought the airplane was going to do a low approach, so he turned to check on his student, but when he looked back up, he saw "the [airplane] was on the runway" sliding. The Federal Aviation Administration inspector reported that, when he arrived on scene, he observed the gear handle in the "up" position. ## Factual narrative The pilot of a retractable landing gear equipped airplane reported that he landed with the landing gear extended. He added that during the landing, the airplane bounced and the "landing gear retracted and the aircraft settled onto its belly". The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that he "may have failed to deploy the landing gear" and does not recall hearing the gear warning horn. A flight instructor witness reported that, while his student was performing an engine run-up, he saw the airplane on final about 400 ft from the threshold with the landing gear retracted. He added that he thought the airplane was going to do a low approach, so he turned to check on his student, but when he looked back up, he saw "the [airplane] was on the runway" sliding. The Federal Aviation Administration Inspector reported that when he arrived on scene, he observed the gear handle in the up position. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N541GF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N541GF), registered now, S/N T26-173, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SWEARINGEN SA26 (AT) - Registry model: [Swearingen SA-26AT](https://openairdocs.org/model/swearingen-sa-26at) (registry code 8780112) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [AiResearch 331 SER 605HP](https://openairdocs.org/engine/airesearch-331-ser-605hp) (registry code 01502, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: T26-173 - Year built: 1970 - Airframe hours: 7205.2 - Engines: Honeywell TPE331-6-252 665 horsepower turbo prop; Honeywell TPE331-6-252 665 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Fmg Aviation LLC - Registered owner: Fmg Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 12, 2016 - Departed: 5C1, SAN ANTONIO, TX - Destination: HDO, Hondo, TX - Airport: HDO, South Texas Rgnl At Hondo, runway 17L, 6,002 × 100 ft, concrete - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Handheld GPS, Onboard weather, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 27, 2017; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 1,336 total, 43 in this make and model, 1,211 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours - Flight instructor; age 70; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; seat: right ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: KHDO ## 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 20170728010129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170728010129A), Jul 28, 2017: Merlin SA-26AT, Hondo, TX, Substantial damage. On July 28, 2017, during a new aircraft familiarization flight, the pilot of a Merlin ii landed at the South Texas Regional Airport in Hondo but failed to… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 16, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95717. 4.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40457065&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Witness Statement (item 2, .PDF, 193 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40457066&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - FAA Inspector (item 3, .PDF, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40457067&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 4, .PDF, 102 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40457068&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-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.