Cessna 172RG accident near Santa Ana, California, September 30, 2003
On September 30, 2003, a Cessna 172RG, registered N9564B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Santa Ana, California (John Wayne 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 failure of the right main landing gear pivot assembly.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 30, 2003
- Place
- Santa Ana, California · John Wayne Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172RG · all 172RGs on the register
- Registration
- N9564B · no longer on the register · serial 172RG0884
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot intentionally landed the airplane with the landing gear retracted. In preparation for landing, he lowered the landing gear handle but did not get a green safe light. The pilot could visually see that the right main strut was not in position. He cycled the landing gear multiple times and contacted Sunrise Aviation via the radio for troubleshooting assistance but the situation could not be remedied. He decided to make an intentional gear up landing. Examination of the airplane revealed failure of the right landing gear pivot assembly.
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: 414 hours in all; 68 in this make and model; 34 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 310 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 20, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,748 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 5, 2003
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-F1A6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KSNA Santa Ana CA at 9:30 pm
- Destination: KSNA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19R, 5,700 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,200 ft; clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.85 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from KSNA
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.