# NTSB MIA04LA038: Cessna 172RG, N4721R, Key West, FL, December 25, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 24, 2003, 20:30 local (Dec 25, 2003, 01:30 UTC) - Place: Key West, FL - Coordinates: 24.549999, -81.75 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=24.5500&lon=-81.7500&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 2, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Miami FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 58635 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA04LA038 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58635/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA04LA038 ## Probable cause Pilot's improper emergency landing gear extension procedure which resulted in the right main landing gear not locking in the down position subsequent right main landing gear collapsing on landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Main gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown - landing gear,main gear - failure,partial - landing gear,main gear - undetermined - emergency procedure - improper, pilot in command (cause) - gear extension - not obtained, pilot in command - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - ditch ## Analysis On approach the pilot selected to extend the landing gear, but he did not get a green light to confirm all three landing gear were down and locked. He checked the electrical fuses and performed several cycles of gear extension with no change to the indication of the landing gear position. He pumped the emergency gear extension hand pump. He advised air traffic control and was instructed to perform several low fly-bys. Tower and fire rescue personnel visually verified that all three landing gear were down. As the airplane's main landing gear touched the runway in a soft field-landing configuration, the right main landing gear collapsed. The pilot stated that he pumped the emergency gear extension pump handle until he felt resistances. He could not remember how many strokes exactly he performed, somewhere from 2 to 3 strokes. The main landing gears were operationally checked once with the airplane's own battery power and twice with the emergency landing gear extension hydraulic hand pump for manual extension of landing gears. The main landing gears extended and locked into position within 12 to 15 pumps of the emergency landing gear extension hydraulic hand pump. No defects were observed in the operation of the extension and locking of the main landing gears by hand pump. An examination of the main landing left and right gear actuators and locking systems revealed no anomalies. Avion's chief flight instructor stated close to a month before the accident, on the accident airplane, he had to perform an emergency extension of the landing gear by the hand pump; more so, it took anywhere from 10 to 20 pumps to lower the gear and into the lock position. According to the chief pilot who checked out the pilot only verbal instructions on how to extend the landing gear by hand pump was given during the check ride in the airplane. ## Factual narrative On December 24, 2003, about 2030 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172RG, N4721R, registered to an individual and operated by Avion Jet Center, LLC, as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight had the right main landing gear collapse during landing on runway 27 at Key West International Airport, Key West, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and an IFR flight plan was filed. The commercial-rated pilot and passenger received no injuries, and the airplane incurred substantial damage. The flight originated from St. Lucie County International Airport, Fort Pierce, Florida, on the same day about 1815. The pilot stated that he was cleared to land on runway 27 and when he selected to extend the landing gear, he did not get a green light to confirm all three landing gear were down and locked. He continued with the landing checklist in hope the landing gear light would illuminate. There was no light upon completion of the landing checklist, he checked the electrical fuses and performed several cycles of gear extension with no change to the indication of the landing gear position. He pumped the emergency gear extension hand pump. He informed the tower of the situation. The tower instructed him to perform several low fly-bys. Tower and fire rescue personnel visually verified that all three landing gear were down. As the airplane's main landing gear touched the runway in a soft field-landing configuration, the right main landing gear collapsed. The airplane veered off the runway to the right and came to a stop at a ditch. The pilot and passenger exited the airplane without assistance. In a later statement to NTSB, the pilot stated that he pumped the emergency gear extension pump handle until he felt resistances. He could not remember how many strokes exactly he performed, somewhere from 2 to 3 strokes. The airplane was removed from the accident site and relocated to a maintenance facility on the airport. On a later date, under NTSB and FAA supervision, the airplane was placed on jacks to perform a gear extension and retraction examination. The nose gear was isolated from the hydraulic system due to the extent of damage received in the accident. The main landing gears were operationally checked once with the airplane's own battery power and twice with the emergency landing gear extension hydraulic hand pump for manual extension of the landing gear. The main landing gears extended and locked into position within 12 to 15 pumps of the emergency landing gear extension hydraulic hand pump. No defects were observed in the operation of the extension and locking of the main landing gears by hand pump. An examination of the main landing left and right gear actuators and locking systems revealed no anomalies. Avion's chief flight instructor stated close to a month before the accident, on the accident airplane, he had to perform an emergency extension of the landing gear by the hand pump; more so, it took anywhere from 10 to 20 pumps to lower the gear and into the lock position. According to the chief pilot who checked out the pilot only verbal instructions on how to extend the landing gear by hand pump was given during the check ride in the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4721R](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4721R), registered now, S/N 172RG0017, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172RG - Registry model: [Cessna 172RG](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172rg) (registry code 2072438) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172RG0017 - Airframe hours: 10126 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 F1A6 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Avion Jet Center, LLC - Registered owner: Ronald Dass - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 28, 2003, 41 hours before - Departed: KFPR, Fort Pierce, FL - Destination: KEYW, Key West, FL - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: KEYW, Key West International, runway 27, 4,801 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review October 4, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 620 total, 20 in this make and model, 210 in the last 90 days, 140 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 340° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: EYW ## 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 20031224033349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031224033349A), Dec 24, 2003: Cessna 172RG, Key West, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) During a night time landing, the right main gear did not show green light. Made three fly bys for rescue personnel on the ground to shine spot light on… 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.