Cessna 172RG accident near Manhattan, Kansas, July 1, 2016
On July 1, 2016 at about 4:00 pm local time, a 1980 Cessna 172RG, registered N5100V, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Manhattan, Kansas (Manhattan Rgnl airport). 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 flight instructor and pilot receiving instruction's omission to use an appropriate checklist and extend the landing gear prior to landing, which resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft's fuselage and bulkhead.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 1, 2016 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Manhattan, Kansas · Manhattan Rgnl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172RG NO SERIES, built 1980 · all 172RGs on the register
- Registration
- N5100V · registry record · serial 172RG0450
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he was receiving instruction in an airplane with retractable landing gear. He further reported that during landing, the airplane touched down and began sliding on the concrete runway, and he "knew something was wrong". The flight instructor reported that he was the pilot in command of the airplane and that on final both pilots were on the controls. He further reported that he realized there was an issue when he heard metal on pavement. The airplane impacted the runway with its landing gear retracted, causing substantial damage to the fuselage and bulkhead. The pilot receiving instruction reported that there were no pre impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. There was a post-accident landing gear aural warning horn check/test conducted, with no maintenance issues found.
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
What happened, in order
- Miscellaneous/other during landing
- Landing gear not configured during landing defining event
- Abnormal runway contact during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Gear extension and retract sys › Not used/operated
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of checklist › Student/instructed pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of checklist › Instructor/check pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Forgotten action/omission › Student/instructed pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Forgotten action/omission › Instructor/check pilot
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other person › Instructor/check pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Student/instructed pilot
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Task monitoring/vigilance › Instructor/check pilot
Dual student
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 450 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 450 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 4, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine sea; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 350 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 90 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 243 as pilot in command; 40 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 28, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,529.3 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 4, 2016
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-F1A6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MHK Manhattan KS at 3:55 pm
- Destination: MHK Manhattan KS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 03, 7,000 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observation at 2:52 pm from KMHK, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.