# NTSB SEA01LA071: Cessna 172 RG, N9551B, Gig Harbor, WA, April 14, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 13, 2001, 20:00 local (Apr 14, 2001, 03:00 UTC) - Place: Gig Harbor, WA - Coordinates: 47.290203, -122.619628 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.2902&lon=-122.6196&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 6, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 52076 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA01LA071 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52076/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA01LA071 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to extend the airplane's landing gear while landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Wheels up landing, landing - gear extension - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - Gear collapsed, landing ## Analysis The pilot reported that shortly after takeoff he noted a "high pitched hissing tone" in conjunction with the illumination of the airplane's low-voltage light. He reported that the situation lasted for a few seconds before the hissing tone subsided and the low voltage light returned to normal. The pilot stated that he thought there "might" be a problem with the aircraft's engine and elected to return to the airport and land. The pilot turned the airplane 180 degrees and attempted to land on the opposing runway. After completing the turn, the pilot realigned the airplane on the runway centerline. He stated " I thought I did reach over and put the landing gear lever in the down position, but I don't remember for sure." The pilot stated that just before touchdown, he heard what he thought was the sound of the propeller striking the runway. He applied power and initiated a go-around. The pilot stated that he then aborted the go-around and "put the gear down" in an attempt to land the airplane on the remaining runway. The airplane touched down on the runway and the right main landing gear leg collapsed. The airplane made several heading changes before coming to rest in a grassy area northeast of runway. A FAA Inspector from the Flight Standards District Office inspected the airplane after the accident and reported that there was no evidence found to indicate a mechanical failure or malfunction with the airplane prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative On April 13, 2001, about 2000 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172 RG, N9551B, sustained substantial damage during a wheels-up landing at Tacoma Narrows Airport, Gig Harbor, Washington. The airplane is owned by Northwest Zephyr Aviation, and was being flown by the pilot as a personal/pleasure flight under the provisions of Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The private pilot, the sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The flight originated from Tacoma Narrows approximately 30 minutes prior to the accident. During a telephone interview and subsequent written statement to the National Transportation Safety Board, the pilot reported that shortly after takeoff from runway 17, he noted a "high pitched hissing tone" in conjunction with the illumination of the airplane's low-voltage light. He reported that the situation lasted for a few seconds before the hissing tone subsided and the low voltage light returned to normal. The pilot stated that he thought there "might" be a problem with the aircraft's engine and elected to return to the airport and land on runway 35. The pilot turned the airplane 180 degrees and attempted to land on the opposing runway. After completing the turn, the pilot realigned the airplane on the runway centerline. He stated " I thought I did reach over and put the landing gear lever in the down position, but I don't remember for sure." The pilot stated that just before touchdown, he heard what he thought was the sound of the propeller striking the runway. He applied power and initiated a go-around. The pilot stated that he then aborted the go-around and "put the gear down" in an attempt to land the airplane on the remaining runway. The airplane touched down on the runway and the right main landing gear leg collapsed. The airplane made several heading changes before coming to rest in a grassy area northeast of runway 17-35. The airplane's horizontal stabilizer sustained substantial damage. In a written statement, a witness to the accident (a certified pilot) reported that the "...aircraft descended onto the runway without the landing gear [gear retracted] and bounced." The witness reported that after the airplane bounced back into the air, he "...heard [engine] power increase" just before the airplane contacted the runway a second time. A FAA Inspector from the Flight Standards District Office, Seattle, Washington, inspected the airplane after the accident and reported that there was no evidence found to indicate a mechanical failure or malfunction with the airplane prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9551B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9551B), registered now, S/N 172RG0873 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 RG - 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: 172RG0873 - Airframe hours: 6012 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 91 - Registered owner: Zephyer Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, February 13, 2001, 93 hours before - Departed: TIW, Tacoma Narrows, WA - Destination: Tacoma Narrows, WA - Airport: TIW, Tacoma Narrows, runway 35, 5,002 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review November 18, 1999; seat: left; flight hours: 510 total, 53 in this make and model, 430 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 218° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.23 inHg - Observed at: TIW ## 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 20010413008179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010413008179A), Apr 13, 2001: Cessna 172RG, Tacoma, WA, No damage. (-23)Pilot noted alternator light blinking then on in aircraft. Pilot made approach and lnading to runway 35 at tiw touched down with landing gear retracted.… ## Other investigations on N9551B (1) 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. - [NTSB LAX07LA215](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07LA215), Jul 12, 2007: Cessna 172RG (N9551B), Roche Harbor, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to perform the emergency landing gear extension procedure prior to landing. A contributing factor in the accident was the failure of the electrical system. 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.