# NTSB GAA19CA398: Cessna R182, N757PU, Petersburg, VA, July 10, 2019

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 10, 2019, 08:00 local (12:00 UTC)
- Place: Petersburg, VA
- Coordinates: 37.186943, -77.503334 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.1869&lon=-77.5033&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 December 2, 2019
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 99814
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA398
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99814/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99814
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA398

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to verify that the main landing gear were extended, which resulted in landing with partially extended landing gear. Contributing to the accident was a tripped landing gear motor circuit breaker.

## 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 specified (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)
- [Attention/monitoring: task monitoring/vigilance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna R182, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md?model=2072734), [All aircraft, 330 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/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)

## 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 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-equipped airplane reported that, after takeoff, there was an issue with the alternator. He checked the circuit breakers, which were "in," and decided to land at a nearby airport to have the alternator examined. During the approach, he placed the landing gear handle in the gear extended position. He said it felt "normal" but that he did not remember if he heard the landing gear motor. He did not look outside the high-wing airplane to check the landing gear position, and he did not remember seeing the green landing gear position lights illuminate. He added that the landing gear warning horn did not sound. He reported that, during landing, the nose landing gear was down and locked, but the main landing gear were trailing behind the airplane, and the airplane slid to the left side of the runway. The pilot reported that, if he knew the gear had not extended, he would have manually pumped the landing gear down. The mechanic reported that, when he arrived at the airplane postaccident, the landing gear circuit breaker was popped. He jacked up the airplane and repositioned the landing gear and then turned on the power, pushed in the landing gear circuit breaker, and raised the landing gear. He did not recall hearing the warning horn but mentioned that the throttle "may have been pushed in." He successfully cycled the landing gear multiple times. The mechanic added that a previous pilot of the accident airplane reported that the landing gear circuit breaker would often pop and that he would lower the landing gear with the manual pump. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left horizontal stabilizer and elevator.

## Factual narrative

The pilot of the retractable landing gear airplane reported that, after takeoff, there was an issue with the alternator. He checked the circuit breakers, which were "in," and decided to land at a nearby airport to have the alternator examined. During approach, he performed a GUMPS check and placed the landing gear handle in the gear extended position. It felt "normal", but he did not remember if he heard the landing gear motor. He did not look outside the high-wing airplane to check the landing gear position and he did not remember seeing the green landing gear position lights. He added that the landing gear warning horn did not sound. He reported that during landing the nose landing gear was down and locked, but the main landing gear were trailing behind the airplane, and the airplane slid to the left side of the runway. The pilot reported that if he knew the gear had not extended, he would have manually pumped the landing gear down. The mechanic reported that when he arrived at the airplane postaccident, the landing gear circuit breaker was popped. They jacked the airplane and repositioned the landing gear. He then turned on the power, pushed in the landing gear circuit breaker, and raised the landing gear. He did not recall hearing the warning horn, but mentioned that the throttle "may have been pushed in." They successfully cycled the landing gear multiple times. The mechanic added that a previous pilot of the accident airplane reported that the landing gear circuit breaker would often pop and he would lower the landing gear with the manual pump. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left horizontal stabilizer and elevator.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N757PU](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N757PU), registered now, S/N R18201253, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna R182 (No Series)
- Registry model: [Cessna R182](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-r182) (registry code 2072734) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: R18201253
- Year built: 1979
- Engines: Lycoming O-540-J3C5D 235 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Williamsburg Flight Center
- Registered owner: Avs Aviation Llc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 19, 2019
- Departed: JGG, Williamsburg, VA
- Destination: PTB, Petersburg, VA
- Airport: PTB, Dinwiddie County, runway 23, 5,002 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Handheld GPS, Electronic multifunction display, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 15, 2018; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 950 total, 80 in this make and model, 850 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 170° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observed at: KPTB

## 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 20190710016799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190710016799A), Jul 10, 2019: Cessna R182, Petersburg, VA, Substantial damage. The pilot decided to land due to a potential mechanical problem with a fluctuating alternator light/ gauge. He did a "gumps" check in the pattern to land at…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 9, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99814. 4.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40475602&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 72 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40475603&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF
- Record of Conversation - Mechanic (item 3, .PDF, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40475604&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Mechanic-Master.PDF
- Accident Photo (item 4, .PDF, 917 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40475605&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.

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