The Cessna 177RG pilot reported that he “decided to attempt a gear up glide” to the runway at the airport in Albermarle, N.C.
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, sustaining 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.
Probable cause: 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.
NTSB Identification: GAA19CA017
This October 2018 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
Has anyone ever heard of a before landing checklist? And if so, touch the checklist item don’t just read it.
At some point insurance may require a Piper type auto extention retrofit for all retracts…without the override…🤔
Having had a Lance have an injector problem right after rotation, not being able to get that gear retracted now has us doing lockout before T/O should something like that happen again. 200 FPM climb was like a Seminole with an engine out.
Engine fail at altitude and dropping the gear, your glide is about like a thrown rock. And this was why they were removed for a while because of a wrongful death suite. I think this is where the lock-out came from.
Definitely kept mine in override. If it came to my remark it would no doubt be a much more sophisticated and costly system. Of course then it would have to determine if gear down or up is best for the situation at hand. Hard to replace paying attention!
A long time ago when I worked at an FBO that had a large fleet of Piper aircraft, we had one troublesome customer who always disengaged the automatic extension system as a normal part of his pre-start routine. On more than one occasion the next customer found the override still engaged and reported it. Eventually the chief pilot banished him from renting as our knowledge of his practice would put our insurance in jeopardy if (when?) he landed gear up by mistake. Some people will just not accept the role of automation to make aviation safer, not even a system to prevent one of the most common GA problems, landing with the retractable gear retracted.
As for the guy in this incident he should have flown the approach with one hand on the landing gear switch so he woul not forget that essential item that needed to be accomplished prior to landing.
Agree with all of Sarah’s comments. The situation on final is similar to landing with an engine out in a twin where the gear extension will likely have to be delayed and distractions have to be managed which can’t be allowed to result in not extending. Proficiency in that unusual scenario is critical.
Thanks! There goes our insurance rates up again knucklehead!
After taking an evaluation flight with a DPE…if demonstrated satisfactory performance, this one is Not strong with the Force and may be a ‘liability’…flying with safety aviator is recommended.. sayin’!