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Atlas / NTSB / WPR22LA373

NTSB CAROL · Event

Event WPR22LA373

2022-08-18 Avalon, California, United States Airport · KAVX None 1 aircraft Status: Completed

Registry · N52946

FAA Aircraft Registry record.

Make / Model

CESSNA 177RG

Year of manufacture

1977 · 45 years old at event

Engine

LYCOMING IO-360-A1B6D (200 hp)

Seats / Engines

4 seats · 1 engine

Last airworthiness date

19780217

ADS-B equipped

Yes — Mode-S A6AD60

Registrant of record

PLUNTZE STEPHEN C

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s failure to extend the landing gear before landing, resulting in a gear up landing and substantial damage to the airplane’s belly.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that, while entering the airport traffic pattern, he became distracted by other air traffic. He stated that he failed to utilize his before-landing check list and did not extend the airplane’s landing gear. The pilot landed the airplane with the landing gear retracted, and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the underside of the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).

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

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2022_WPR22LA373.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.