# NTSB WPR17LA032: Hoskins Lonnie F Velocity XL RG, N84KJ, Petaluma, CA, December 4, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 4, 2016, 15:25 local (23:25 UTC) - Place: Petaluma, CA - Coordinates: 38.232498, -122.633888 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2325&lon=-122.6339&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report November 6, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Oakland FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 94466 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR17LA032 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94466/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94466 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17LA032 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed during an aborted landing, which resulted in an exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack and an inadvertent aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s distraction while on final approach. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause) - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause) - [Attention/monitoring: attention](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause) ## Analysis The private pilot reported that he was on final approach for landing when he observed another airplane landing on the same runway. To maintain separation between the two airplanes, the pilot performed s-turns and retracted the landing gear to improve the glide distance. When he extended the landing gear for the second time in preparation for landing, the landing gear position indicator light did not illuminate. The pilot pushed the gear reset button and subsequently pulled back on the control stick to abort the landing, which resulted in the airplane exceeding its critical angle of attack and stalling 10 to 20 ft above the runway. A witness observed the accident airplane on final approach with the landing gear retracted and at a low airspeed. The airplane touched down, bounced back into the air, settled onto the runway, and slid about 100 ft before coming to rest. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the landing gear handle was in the UP position. A mechanic who recovered the airplane reported that he overheard the pilot say he was distracted on final approach. ## Factual narrative On December 4, 2016, about 1525 Pacific standard time, an experimental Velocity XL/RG airplane, N84KJ, was substantially damaged after it contacted the runway with the landing gear retracted at Petaluma Municipal Airport (O69), Petaluma, California. The private pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The local flight originated from O69 at 1455. The pilot reported that the purpose of the flight was to practice maneuvers required to obtain a commercial pilot certificate. Upon his return to O69, the pilot entered the downwind leg for runway 29, extended the landing gear, and prior to base leg, reduced the power to idle. He also observed a Cessna airplane on final. To keep an adequate separation between the two airplanes, the pilot announced that he would perform S turns. After he had executed two S turns, the pilot realized he was low and slow, so he retracted the landing gear to improve the glide distance. He initially intended to do a go-around, but decided to land after the Cessna exited the runway. As he attempted to extend his landing gear, he observed that the landing gear down position-indicator light did not illuminate. The pilot pushed the gear reset button and subsequently pulled back on the control stick, which resulted in an inadvertent stall 10 to 20 ft above the runway. Postaccident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the landing gear handle was in the UP position. A witness observed the accident airplane on final approach, about one-third of the way down the runway with the landing gear retracted and at a low airspeed. He immediately started flashing lights in his vehicle to get the pilot's attention. The airplane touched down, bounced back into the air, settled on its belly and slid about 100 ft to a stop. A mechanic who recovered the airplane reported that the landing gear handle was in the UP position, and that he overheard the pilot say that he was distracted on final approach. Maintenance personnel on scene noticed the gear was partially out of the well before they started to lift the aircraft during the recovery process. In the section titled "RECOMMENDATION" in the NTSB Pilot/Operator Report, form 6120.1, the pilot stated that the decision to proceed with the landing proved to be inadequate and that he should have performed a go around instead. The pilot completed necessary repairs on the airplane that included fiberglass repair to the belly and the landing gear system. The nose gear actuator and strut were replaced. The landing gear was then functionally tested and there were no malfunctions. ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N84KJ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N84KJ), registered now, S/N 051, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: HOSKINS LONNIE F VELOCITY XL RG (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Hoskins Lonnie F VELOCITY XL RG](https://openairdocs.org/model/hoskins-lonnie-f-velocity-xl-rg) (registry code 056202Q) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 051 - Year built: 2006 - Airframe hours: 500 - Engines: CMI IO-550 310 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, September 20, 2016 - Departed: O69, Petaluma, CA - Destination: O69, Petaluma, CA - Airport: O69, Petaluma Muni, runway 29, 3,602 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Auto-pilot, Onboard weather ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 19, 2015; seat: left; flight hours: 3,500 total, 3,500 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: KDVO, 6 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 20161204020709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20161204020709A), Dec 4, 2016: VELOCITY XL RG, Petaluma, CA, Substantial damage. Petaluma, CA (O69): N84KJ, Velocity Xl Rg exp, lndd gear up rwy 29; no ATC svcs; update 12/6/16 1932Z: ntsb/smith adzd damage changed from unkn to substantial.… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 5, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94466. 930 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 371 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40464772&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 57 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40464773&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Correspondence with the Pilot (item 3, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40464774&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Correspondence%20with%20the%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Photos (item 4, .PDF, 5 photos, 451 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40464775&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-Master.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.