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GAA19CA017

2018-10-04 · Albermarle, North Carolina, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport VUJ

Current FAA registration · N52881

Make / Model
CESSNA 177RG
Year of manufacture
1977 · 41 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING IO-360-A1B6D (200 hp)
Seats / Engines
4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19780105
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A6AA30

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's improper decision to attempt a gear-up glide to the runway and his subsequent failure to extend the landing gear before landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to use a checklist before landing.

Factual narrative

The pilot in the retractable landing gear-equipped airplane reported that he, "decided to attempt a gear up glide" to the runway. He recalled that he became fixated on the reaching the runway and forgot to extend the landing gear. The airplane touched down and skidded to a stop on the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower fuselage bulkheads. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot in the retractable-landing gear-equipped airplane reported that he "decided to attempt a gear up glide" to the runway. He recalled that he became fixated on reaching the runway and forgot to extend the landing gear. The airplane touched down and skidded to a stop on the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower fuselage bulkheads. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot recommended adhering to checklists. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Forgotten action/omission-Pilot - C
  • C Aircraft-Aircraft systems-Landing gear system-Gear extension and retract sys-Not used/operated - C
  • F Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Use of checklist-Pilot - F

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2018_GAA19CA017.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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