Cessna 172RG N9551B

Summary

On 12 July 2007 at about 01:30 local time, a Cessna 172RG registered N9551B, operated by Avian Flight Center, was involved in an accident near Roche Harbor, Washington, United States. 3 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

12 July 2007 at 01:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Roche Harbor, Washington, United States

Nearest airport

Roche Harbor Airport (WA09)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Cessna 172RG

Registration

N9551B

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Avian Flight Center

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Bremerton → Roche Harbor

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX07LA215

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to perform the emergency landing gear extension procedure prior to landing. A contributing factor in the accident was the failure of the electrical system.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

As the airplane approached the destination airport, it had an electrical failure. The pilot stated he was concerned about the potential for an electrical fire, and elected not to attempt to troubleshoot the malfunction. He extended the landing gear by placing the gear lever in the "DOWN" position, and said he visually confirmed that they were down by the mirrors affixed to the wings, as the landing gear indicator lights in the cockpit were not illuminated due to the loss of electrical power. The pilot did not use the emergency gear extension system. With the landing gear appearing to be extended, the airplane touched down on the runway and the main landing gear collapsed. The airplane's loss of electrical power rendered the landing gear warning system inoperative; the warning system is designed to help prevent the pilot from inadvertently making a landing with the landing gear retracted. No evidence of any mechanical malfunction was found during the postimpact examination of the landing gear and alternator/battery electrical system. If the pilot had used the emergency gear extension system per the procedures prescribed in the pilot's operating handbook, it is probable that the landing gear would have extended and locked. The underlying cause of the electrical system failure could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.