LAX07LA039

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 172RG · San Diego, CA · November 20, 2006

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
November 19, 2006, 17:15 local (Nov 20, 2006, 01:15 UTC)
Place
San Diego, CA
Injuries
4 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Enroute
Aircraft
N28RJCessna 172RG
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Night
Status
Completed · report November 29, 2007
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
WP-FSDO-San Diego, CA
FAA report
20061119029289A
Case key
64895

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

An undetermined total electrical failure. The pilot's failure to extend the landing gear to the down and locked position was a factor.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Airframe/component/system failure/malfunctionCruise - normal
Electrical system - failure,total
Gear collapsedLanding - roll
Gear down and locked - not performedPilot in commandFactor

Analysis

According to a report obtained from the airport manager, the airplane experienced a complete electrical failure during the flight. The pilot elected to return and land at the departure airport. After receiving a clearance to land from the tower (via light gun signal), the pilot prepared for landing and moved the landing gear handle to the down position. The landing gear dropped from their bays, but did not extend and lock into place. The pilot did not pump the emergency landing gear extension handle to lock the landing gear in the down position. As the aircraft touched down on the runway, the main landing gear legs folded back into their retracted position. The left wing and horizontal stabilizer contacted the runway as the aircraft came to a stop in an upright position. The airplane sustained substantial damage to its left horizontal stabilizer. The reason for the electrical failure was not determined.

Factual narrative

On November 19, 2006, at 1715 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 172RG airplane, N28RJ, was substantially damaged when the landing gear collapsed during the landing roll on runway 28R at the Montgomery Field Airport (MYF), San Diego, California. The commercial pilot and three passengers were not injured. The airplane was operated by the pilot through the Golden Wings Flying Club, El Cajon, California, under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The personal flight departed MYF at 1600. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan had not been filed.

According to a report obtained from the MYF airport manager, the airplane experienced a complete electrical failure during the flight. The pilot elected to return and land at MYF. After receiving a clearance to land from the tower (via light gun signal), the pilot prepared for landing and moved the landing gear handle to the down position. The landing gear dropped from their bays, but did not extend and lock into place. The pilot did not pump the emergency landing gear extension handle to lock the landing gear in the down position. As the aircraft touched down on the runway, the main landing gear legs folded back into their retracted position. The left wing and horizontal stabilizer contacted the runway as the aircraft came to a stop in an upright position.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to its left horizontal stabilizer.

The reason for the electrical failure was not determined.

Aircraft

Registration
N28RJ
Reported as
Cessna 172RG
Category
Airplane
Serial number
172RG0869
Engine
Lycoming O-360-F1A6, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Golden Wing Flying Club
Registered owner
Blossom Valley Aviation LLC
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Departed
MYF
Airport
MYF · Montgomery Field, runway 28R, 4,577 × 150 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
42
Injuries
None
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
July 1, 2005
Seat
Left
Flight hours
532 total · 88 in this make and model · 454 as pilot in command · 5 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Night
Wind
260° at 3 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
73 °F, dew point 43 °F
Altimeter
29.98 inHg
Observed at
MYF

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.