Cessna 172RG accident near Atlanta, Georgia, February 13, 2019
On February 13, 2019 at about 9:20 pm local time, a 1980 Cessna 172RG, registered N5223V, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Atlanta, Georgia (Cobb County Intl-Mccollum Fiel airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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 before landing. Contributing to the accident were the pilot’s inability to see the landing gear position light because his iPad was blocking his view of it and his feeling of being rushed during the approach and landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 13, 2019 · about 9:20 pm local time
- Place
- Atlanta, Georgia · Cobb County Intl-Mccollum Fiel · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172RG No Series, built 1980 · all 172RGs on the register
- Registration
- N5223V · no longer on the register · serial 172RG0476
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the retractable-landing gear-equipped airplane reported that, during approach, he noticed the airplane was a little high, so he reduced power to idle and heard an alert horn. He quickly scanned the engine gauges and saw that the manifold pressure gauge was "pegged at the bottom with no indication." He considered conducting a go-around but decided to land and assess the situation on the ground. The pilot landed the airplane with the landing gear retracted. The pilot added that he did not see the landing gear position light because his iPad, which was sitting on the yoke, blocked his view. He added that, leading up to the approach and landing, the flight was fast paced, and he felt rushed, which attributed to his assumption that he was in his "typical" fixed-landing gear airplane. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Gear extension and retract sys › Not used/operated
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Forgotten action/omission › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Mental/emotional state › Stress › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Mental/emotional state › Confusion › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring equip/instruments › Pilot
- factor Environmental issues › Task environment › Physical workspace › Visibility › Effect on personnel
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Mental/emotional state › Stress › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 243 hours in all; 17 in this make and model; 37 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 157 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 25, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,558.2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 11, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-F1A6 (piston); 6,558 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FTY Atlanta GA at 8:48 pm
- Destination: RYY Atlanta GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 6,295 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observation at 9:48 pm from KRYY
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on March 27, 2019. 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot's Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Accident Photo | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N5223V the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.