# NTSB SEA02LA050: Unander Velocity 173RG, N278GJ, West Jordan, UT, March 6, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 5, 2002, 18:55 local (Mar 6, 2002, 01:55 UTC) - Place: West Jordan, UT - Coordinates: 40.619445, -111.992774 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6194&lon=-111.9928&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - Salt Lake City FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 54308 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA02LA050 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54308/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54308 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA02LA050 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to ensure that the gear was extended prior to landing. Factors included a failure of a hydraulic down-pressure switch, and the pilot's attention diverted to another aircraft executing an opposite-direction traffic pattern. ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was attempting a landing after dark on runway 16 at the non-towered airport. The accident pilot reported that as he was turning base for runway 16, another aircraft (registration number not reported or determined), which he had passed on the way into Salt Lake #2 Airport, announced that he was entering downwind for runway 34. The pilot reported that he attempted to talk to the pilot of the other aircraft on the radio, but got no response. The pilot stated that he put the gear switch down, but forgot to check for three green lights since his attention was diverted to the other aircraft. The pilot stated that he saw the other aircraft turning final as he (the accident pilot) was about to flare. The pilot reported that he then attempted to initiate a go-around, but the aircraft's propeller struck the runway and the engine stopped. The aircraft touched down on the sod on the side of the runway and subsequently struck an object on the ground and slid partially back onto the runway. The pilot stated that the other aircraft subsequently landed on runway 34 and went past the accident aircraft. An FAA inspector who was at the airport at the time reported that the landing gear handle was in the "down" position at the accident scene, but that the gear appeared to have never come out of the wells. The pilot of the other aircraft was not identified to the NTSB, and was not contacted. The pilot reported that a hydraulic down pressure switch had failed, disabling normal landing gear extension. ## Factual narrative On March 5, 2002, approximately 1855 mountain standard time, an Unander Velocity 173RG experimental-category amateur-built airplane, N278GJ, was substantially damaged in a gear-up landing at Salt Lake City Municipal Airport #2 (Salt Lake #2), West Jordan, Utah. The private pilot-in-command and one passenger were not injured in the accident. Visual meteorological conditions were reported at Salt Lake #2 at 1855, and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR 91 personal flight from Wendover, Utah. The pilot reported that he was attempting a landing after dark on runway 16 at the non-towered airport. The accident pilot reported that as he was turning base for runway 16, another aircraft (registration number not reported or determined), which he had passed on the way into Salt Lake #2, announced that he was entering downwind for runway 34. The pilot reported that he attempted to talk to the pilot of the other aircraft on the radio, but got no response (NOTE: According to the U.S. Government Airport/Facility Directory (A/FD), Salt Lake #2's Common Traffic Advisory Frequency [CTAF] frequency is 122.7 MHz.) The pilot stated that he put the gear switch down, but forgot to check for three green lights since his attention was diverted to the other aircraft. The pilot stated that he saw the other aircraft turning final as he (the accident pilot) was about to flare. The pilot reported that he then attempted to initiate a go-around, but the aircraft's propeller struck the runway and the engine stopped. The aircraft touched down on the sod on the side of the runway and subsequently struck an object on the ground and slid partially back onto the runway. The pilot stated that the other aircraft subsequently landed on runway 34 and went past the accident aircraft. An FAA inspector who was at the airport at the time reported that the landing gear handle was in the "down" position at the accident scene, but that the gear appeared to have never come out of the wells. The pilot of the other aircraft was not identified to the NTSB and was not contacted. The pilot reported that a hydraulic down pressure switch (part number 0166-41604-3-064) had failed, disabling normal landing gear extension. The pilot reported the total time on the part as 3 hours, and stated that he had just replaced this switch after a previous switch had failed. The pilot indicated in his NTSB accident report that the aircraft kit maker, Velocity Aircraft of Sebastian, Florida, had been made aware of this problem. Salt Lake #2 is equipped with an AWOS-3 automated weather observation system (AWOS) that broadcasts automated weather observations on 134.425 MHz. Winds at the airport were reported as being calm at 1755, then from 240 degrees true at 8 knots at 1855 and from 250 degrees true at 7 knots at 1955. The A/FD does not specify a calm-wind or preferred runway for the airport. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, approach - vfr pattern - base turn - landing gear,gear switch - failure (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, go-around (vfr) - checklist - not complied with, pilot in command (cause) - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor) - propeller system/accessories - blade strike - Loss of engine power, go-around (vfr) - Wheels up landing, emergency descent/landing ## Aircraft - Registration: [N278GJ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N278GJ), registered now, S/N DMO 275 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Unander Velocity 173RG - Registry model: [Unander Gary D VELOCITY 173 RG](https://openairdocs.org/model/unander-gary-d-velocity-173-rg) (registry code 05602AQ) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: DMO 275 - Airframe hours: 255.3 - Engines: Lycoming LIO-360-C1E6 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, April 7, 2001, 34.8 hours before - Departed: ENV, Wendover, UT - Destination: U42, West Jordan, UT - Airport: U42, Salt Lake City Municipal 2, runway 16, 5,860 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review October 29, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 568 total, 281 in this make and model, 518 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 224° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: U42 ## 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 20020305003269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020305003269A), Mar 5, 2002: Amtr VELCITY173RG, Salt Lake City, UT, No damage. (-23) Upon arrival at U42, N278GL, planned for landing rwy 16, a second aircraft in the pattern was planning to land 34. Radio transmissions were made by both… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 18, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54308. 1.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 833 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40393401&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Airport/Facility Directory Excerpt for U42 (item 2, .PDF, 105 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40171630&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airport%2FFacility%20Directory%20Excerpt%20for%20U42-Master.PDF - U42 METAR Observations (item 3, .PDF, 98 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40171631&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=U42%20METAR%20Observations-Master.PDF - U42 Sun and Moon Data for 03/05/02 (item 4, .PDF, 32 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40171632&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=U42%20Sun%20and%20Moon%20Data%20for%2003%2F05%2F02-Master.PDF - Aircraft Maintenance Log Excerpt (item 5, .PDF, 59 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40393402&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Aircraft%20Maintenance%20Log%20Excerpt-Redacted.PDF 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.