# NTSB GAA18CA148: Harris Pierce Velocity XL RG, N551ZL, Locust Grove, GA, February 16, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 16, 2018, 18:35 local (23:35 UTC) - Place: Locust Grove, GA - Coordinates: 33.364723, -84.167778 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3647&lon=-84.1678&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: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 14, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 96816 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA148 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96816/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96816 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA148 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to extend the landing gear due to his distraction by talking on the radio, which resulted in a gear-up 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: [Harris Pierce VELOCITY XL RG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=0561526), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Harris Pierce VELOCITY XL RG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0561526), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: attention](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Harris Pierce VELOCITY XL RG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md?model=0561526), [All aircraft, 226 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md) - [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Harris Pierce VELOCITY XL RG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=0561526), [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: [Harris Pierce VELOCITY XL RG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=0561526), [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: [Harris Pierce VELOCITY XL RG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=0561526), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, his first approach to land in the airplane was a little fast and high, so he raised the gear and applied full power for the go-around. During the second approach, he was talking with a person on the ground over the radio. Subsequently, he got distracted and landed with the landing gear in the up-and-locked position. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported in a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge that the gear-up warning switch had been disabled. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that, his first approach to land in the airplane was a little fast and high, so he raised the gear and applied full power for the go-around. On the second approach he was talking with a person on the ground over the radio. Subsequently, he got distracted and landed with the landing gear in the up and locked position. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported in a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge that, the gear up warning switch had been disabled. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N551ZL](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N551ZL), registered now, S/N 3RX025 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: HARRIS PIERCE VELOCITY XL RG (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Harris Pierce VELOCITY XL RG](https://openairdocs.org/model/harris-pierce-velocity-xl-rg) (registry code 0561526) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 3RX025 - Year built: 2003 - Airframe hours: 340 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, February 9, 2018 - Departed: X26, SEBASTIAN, FL - Destination: GA04, Locust Grove, GA - Airport: GA04, Mallards Landing, runway 25, 4,500 × 100 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Onboard weather, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Angle of attack indicator, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 28, 2017; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 625 total, 12 in this make and model, 550 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 290° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: K6A2, 10 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 20180216002649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180216002649A), Feb 16, 2018: Velocity XLRG, Locust Grove, GA, Substantial damage. On February 16, 2018 at approximately 18:45, a Velocity experimental aircraft, model Xlrg, N551ZL, attempted to land at Mallards Landing in Locust Grove,… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 9, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96816. 1.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 829 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461784&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record - Telephone Interview, Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 150 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461785&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Telephone%20Interview,%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 1 photo, 347 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461786&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.