# NTSB LAX98LA065: Cessna 172RG, N5404V, Van Nuys, CA, December 30, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 30, 1997, 14:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Van Nuys, CA - Coordinates: 34.189949, -118.490356 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1899&lon=-118.4904&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 4, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 30016 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX98LA065 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/30016/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA065 ## Probable cause The student and flight instructor's failure to verify that the landing gear was in the down position, and the design of the electrical system in which a single-point aircraft system malfunction (one open circuit breaker) disabled both the landing gear warning system and the main gear downlock switches. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Wheels up landing, landing - flare/touchdown - electrical system,circuit breaker - popped/tripped (cause) - acft/equip,inadequate design, manufacturer (cause) - landing gear,gear locking mechanism - disabled (contributing factor) - landing gear,gear warning system - disabled (contributing factor) - gear extension - not verified, flightcrew (cause) ## Analysis The flight instructor stated that the student pilot had extended the landing gear on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, but then retracted it after being told to go around by the control tower. On the second downwind leg, the student again placed the gear switch in the down position; however, neither the student nor the instructor visually verified that the gear was down and locked. During the final flare for landing, the instructor noted that the gear was not down and that the 5 amp gear warning circuit breaker had opened. He then closed the circuit breaker and noted the gear starting to extend, but it had achieved only an intermediate position at the time of touchdown. The airplane subsequently settled on to the runway and incurred damage to the underside, the right wing, and the right horizontal stabilizer. A review of the Cessna 172RG Service Manual, Drawing No. 2471000, 'Wiring Diagram-Landing Gear System' indicated that subject circuit breaker, in addition to providing power to the gear indicator lights and warning horn, also powers the main gear downlock switches and the stall warning horn. ## Factual narrative On December 30, 1997, at 1400 hours Pacific standard time, a Cessna 172RG, N5404V, was substantially damaged during landing with the gear partially extended at the Van Nuys, California, airport. There were no injuries to the flight instructor or student pilot. The flight departed Van Nuys on a local instructional flight and no flight plan was filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight. The flight instructor stated in his report of accident that the student pilot had extended the landing gear on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, but then retracted it after being told to go around by the control tower. On the second downwind leg, the student again placed the gear switch in the down position; however, neither the student pilot nor the instructor visually verified that the gear was down and locked. During the final flare for landing, the instructor noted that the gear was not down and that the 5 amp gear warning circuit breaker had opened. He then closed the circuit breaker and noted the gear starting to extend but it had achieved only an intermediate position at the time of touchdown. The airplane subsequently settled on to the runway and incurred damage to the underside, the right wing, and the right horizontal stabilizer. A review of the Cessna 172RG Service Manual, Drawing No. 2471000, "Wiring Diagram-Landing Gear System" indicated that subject circuit breaker, in addition to providing power to the gear indicator lights and warning horn, also powers the main gear downlock switches and the stall warning horn. This was verified by a telephone conversation with the Cessna Aircraft Engineering Department. ## Aircraft - Registration: N5404V (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172RG - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172RG0522 - Airframe hours: 4619 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-F1A6 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Back Bay Construction, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 11, 1997, 4 hours before - Departed: VNY - Airport: VNY, Van Nuys, runway 34, 8,000 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 2,800 total, 75 in this make and model, 2,400 as pilot in command, 90 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 5 knots - Visibility: 25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: VNY, 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 19971230041269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971230041269A), Dec 30, 1997: Cessna 172RG, Van Nuys, CA, Substantial damage. Failed to verify gear down on final until CFI spotted popped cb and pushed it in too late. Gear folded landing. (-23) Van Nuys tower called vny FSDO to report… 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.