Cessna 172RG accident near El Cajon, California, June 20, 2017
On June 20, 2017 at about 9:15 pm local time, a 1980 Cessna 172RG, registered N5424V, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near El Cajon, California (Gillespie Field). 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 extend the landing gear with sufficient time to allow the landing gear to fully extend and the flight instructor's failure to visually check to see if the right main landing gear were extended.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 20, 2017 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- El Cajon, California · Gillespie Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172RG, built 1980 · all 172RGs on the register
- Registration
- N5424V · registry record · serial 172RG0528
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor reported that, during a stage check for the commercial pilot training course, the private pilot student completed the "G.U.M.P. [gas, undercarriage, mixture, propeller] check" on downwind in the traffic pattern. He added that, before the turn to the base leg, "everything was normal, and the gear was selected down by the student." He added that he observed three green landing gear extended indication lights illuminated. He further added that, after a normal landing touchdown, when the airplane slowed to 40 knots in the ground roll, the right main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane veered off the runway to the right. He reported that he did not visually check to see if the right main landing gear were extended. The private pilot reported that, "on downwind we followed the G.U.M.P. checklist and verified that the landing gear were down. My instructor checked the right [main landing gear] and I checked the left [main landing gear]." He added that, on base, he "checked the landing lights with green [lights]." He further added that, after a normal touchdown, the right main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane veered off the runway to the right. The right elevator sustained substantial damage. The Federal Aviation Administration Aviation Safety Inspector performed a functional test of the airplane's landing gear system 1 day after the accident. The inspector observed the landing gear retracting, extending, and locking down into place "several times." He added that, during two gear extension cycles, he "simulated an air load on the right main landing gear by pulling back on it as it extended; the gear extended and locked down properly without discrepancies." According to a commercial pilot witness, while he was driving a car along an airport perimeter road, he had a "head-on-view of the aircraft landing." He added that he observed a "red and white C172RG" airplane on final approach that "appeared to not have the gear down." He added that he stopped his car and continued to watch the airplane, and as it passed off to his right, he observed the "front wheel" down and both main landing gear "hanging." He subsequently observed the airplane touch down on the left main landing gear first and then skid off the runway to the right. It is likely that the landing gear selector was moved to the "down" position on short final approach, which did not allow sufficient time for the right main landing gear to fully extend and lock into place.
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
- Landing gear not configured during landing defining event
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (landing roll)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Student/instructed pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Identification/recognition › Student/instructed pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Gear extension and retract sys › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Forgotten action/omission › Instructor/check pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring equip/instruments › Instructor/check pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 238 hours in all; 28 in this make and model; 48 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 117 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,800 hours in all; 700 in this make and model; 320 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days; 5,000 as pilot in command; 3,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 27, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 12,652 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 27, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 2,658 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SEE El Cajon CA at 9:15 pm
- Destination: SEE El Cajon CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27R, 5,342 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.79 inHg
- Observation at 9:47 pm from KSEE
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on September 18, 2017. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | FAA Inspector Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Record of Conversation (Flight Instructor) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Witness Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Accident Photos (Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.