- Date
- May 23, 1999, 18:45 local (22:45 UTC)
- Place
- Morristown, NJ
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N9475BCessna 172RG
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Dusk
- Status
- Completed · report September 19, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19990523047849A
- Case key
- 46600
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The right main landing gear collapsed for undetermined reasons.
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.
Analysis
The pilot stated that she received her approach clearance about 12 miles from the airport. At that time, she lowered the landing gear and performed a 'gumps' check which included checking the gas, undercarriage, mixture and propeller. After lowering the landing gear, she observed a green landing gear light. The landing seemed normal, and the pilot did not hear a gear warning horn. The right main landing gear collapsed and the airplane spun 180 degrees on the runway. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector, and a local mechanic, did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions.
Factual narrative
On May 23, 1999, about 1845 Eastern Daylight Time, a Cessna 172RG, N9475B, was substantially damaged while landing at the Morristown Municipal Airport (MMU), Morristown, New Jersey. The certificated commercial pilot and passenger were not injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that originated from Ocean City Municipal Airport, Ocean City, Maryland. An instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
The pilot stated that she received her approach clearance about 12 miles from MMU. At that time, she lowered the landing gear and performed a "gumps" check. After lowering the landing gear, she observed a green landing gear light. The landing seemed normal, and the pilot did not hear a gear warning horn. Then the right wing lowered to the runway, and the airplane spun 180 degrees on the runway. The pilot further stated that she only performed 1 "gumps" check.
According to Air Traffic Control Specialists, the airplane touched down on Runway 23, spun 180 degrees, and came to rest on the runway. The pilot radioed the control tower and advised that the right main landing gear had collapsed.
Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector, and a local mechanic, did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions. The Inspector observed damage to the elevator, horizontal stabilizer, right aileron, right flap, and right main landing gear. Additionally, he reported that the empennage and right wing sustained structural damage.
At 1845, the reported weather at MMU was: wind calm; visibility 1 mile, mist; ceiling 400 feet overcast, temperature 64 degrees Fahrenheit, dewpoint 63 degrees, altimeter 29.80 inches of Hg.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9475B
- Reported as
- Cessna 172RG
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 172RG0834
- Airframe hours
- 3,549
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Iris Vogel
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · December 11, 1998 · 68 hours before
- Departed
- OXB · Ocean City, MD
- Destination
- MMU
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- MMU · Morristown Municipal, runway 23, 5,999 × 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
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 607 total · 122 in this make and model · 541 as pilot in command · 39 in the last 90 days · 17 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Dusk
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 400 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 64 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MMU
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.