Cessna 177RG accident near Richland, Washington, December 1, 2013
On December 1, 2013 at about 11:30 pm local time, a 1976 Cessna 177RG, registered N7592V, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Richland, Washington (Richland 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 prior to landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's diverted attention and not using a checklist.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 1, 2013 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Richland, Washington · Richland · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177RG NO SERIES, built 1976 · all 177RGs on the register
- Registration
- N7592V · registry record · serial 177RG0883
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot reported that following an uneventful flight, as he entered the airport traffic pattern on the downwind leg, was notified by another pilot that there was an airplane operating within the traffic pattern with no radio. The student pilot established visual contact with one airplane, however, did not establish visual contact with the airplane operating without a radio until reaching the mid-field point on downwind. The student pilot stated that throughout the approach to landing, he maintained visual contact with the airplane until it would not be a factor. The student pilot subsequently landed the airplane with the landing gear in the retracted position, which resulted in structural damage to the fuselage. The student pilot stated that his attention was diverted between maintaining airspeed and a stable approach to the runway, while maintaining visual contact with the airplane that was not in radio contact. He added that he failed to do his before landing checklist as he normally does at the mid-field point on downwind and each turn in the traffic pattern. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures 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 Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Forgotten action/omission › Student/instructed pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › (general) › Not used/operated
- factor Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Attention › Student/instructed pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of checklist › Student/instructed pilot
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 88 hours in all; 37 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 29 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,967 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 29, 2013; 72 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Hermiston OR at 11:00 pm
- Destination: RLD Richland WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 01, 4,009 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; a few clouds at 6,500 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.84 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from KPSC, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.