# NTSB WPR20CA286: Northrop F5, N926TA, Reno, NV, August 24, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 24, 2020, 10:03 local (17:03 UTC) - Place: Reno, NV - Coordinates: 39.680831, -119.879997 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6808&lon=-119.8800&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 101861 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR20CA286 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101861/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101861 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20CA286 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to complete the pre-landing checklist due to a distraction which resulted in a gear-up landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Northrop F-5E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=645035E), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of checklist](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Northrop F-5E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md?model=645035E), [All aircraft, 336 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: attention](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Northrop F-5E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md?model=645035E), [All aircraft, 226 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Northrop F-5E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=645035E), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) (defining event); cases with it: [Northrop F-5E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=645035E), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) - [Landing: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Northrop F-5E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=645035E), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) ## Analysis The operator reported that while the pilot was in the airport traffic pattern, he was distracted by a radio transmission on the common traffic advisory frequency from additional landing traffic at the airport. The operator stated that the pilot continued his approach to landing, with the landing gear still retracted, having not completed the landing checklist. While on final approach, the pilot received a "terrain, terrain" alert, and perceived he was slightly low, and added power. Subsequently, the airplane landed gear up. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the horizontal stabilizer. The operator reported that there were no pre-accident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The operator reported that while the pilot was in the airport traffic pattern, he was distracted by a radio transmission on the common traffic advisory frequency from additional landing traffic at the airport. The operator stated that the pilot continued his approach to landing, with the landing gear still retracted, having not completed the landing checklist. While on final approach, the pilot received a "terrain, terrain" alert, and perceived he was slightly low, and added power. Subsequently, the airplane landed gear up. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the horizontal stabilizer. The operator reported that there were no pre-accident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N926TA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N926TA), registered now, S/N 75-0493, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Northrop F5 (E) - Registry model: [Northrop F-5E](https://openairdocs.org/model/northrop-f-5e) (registry code 645035E) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [GE J85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/ge-j85-series) (registry code 30199, turbo-jet) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 75-0493 - Year built: 1975 - Airframe hours: 2335.1 - Engines: General Electric J85-21C 5000 lbs thrust turbo jet; General Electric J85-21C 5000 lbs thrust turbo jet - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 13, 2020 - Departed: RTS, Reno, NV - Destination: RTS, Reno, NV - Airport: RTS, Reno/Stead, runway 14, 9,000 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather, Video recording device, ADS-B, Angle of attack indicator, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 5, 2020; seat: single; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 2,838 total, 17 in this make and model, 2,350 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Icing: Unknown - Turbulence: Unknown - Observed at: KRTS ## 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 20200824014179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200824014179A), Aug 24, 2020: Northrop F-5E, Reno, NV, Substantial damage. During the approach to landing on runway 14 the pilot failed to extend the landing gear, landing on the belly of the aircraft, damaging the center pylon, an… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 9, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101861. 4.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 4.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11328117&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR20CA286%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Damage photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 2 photos, 225 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10121916&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR20CA286%20Damage%20Photos-Rel.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.