Cessna 172 RG accident near Fernandina, Florida, July 8, 2004
On July 8, 2004 at about 2:45 pm local time, a Cessna 172 RG, registered N6321R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fernandina, Florida. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to follow the checklist and lower the landing gear prior to landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 8, 2004 · about 2:45 pm local time
- Place
- Fernandina, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 RG · all 172 RGs on the register
- Registration
- N6321R · no longer on the register · serial 172rg0164
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, "while I was plotting my course to make sure that [I] was going to make the runway I was calling out the items on the checklist. I was trying to take the first half of the runway and I was high on the approach. I was trying to concentrate on getting down before the point that he (check airman) pointed out. I finally was getting [down] and I had my point made until we heard a horrendous noise which was the prop hitting the pavement." Examination of the airplane revealed engine and propeller damage, firewall damage, underbelly fuselage damage as well as front doors and skin being cracked and buckled. The landing gear system, all three wheels, were still in the wheel wells. The subsequent functional test of the landing gear system failed to disclose a mechanical problem. The functional test also determined that the landing gear warning horn was operational.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 160 hours in all; 0 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 55J Fernandina Beac FL at 2:30 pm
- Destination: Fernandina FL
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots
- Sky: broken clouds at 200 ft; a few clouds at 40 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 11:00 am from JAX
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.