Aero Vodochody Aero Works L-39C N139CG

Summary

On 16 December 2000 at about 19:50 local time, a Aero Vodochody Aero Works L-39C registered N139CG was involved in an accident near Hilton Head Isl, South Carolina, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

16 December 2000 at 19:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Hilton Head Isl, South Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Hiilton Head (HXD)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Aero Vodochody Aero Works L-39C

Registration

N139CG

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA01LA044

Nobody was injured.

the pilot's improper inflight planning/decision and failure to follow the prelanding checklist, resulting in the landing gear not being lowered in sufficient time to be verified down and locked, which resulted in a wheels up landing and substantial damage to the airplane.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that he had been flying for about 20 minutes and became concerned that fog may be moving into the airport area so he returned for a landing. During landing the pilot said he did not extend the landing gear on the downwind leg as he normally did, and he realized he had not done so late, just prior to landing. He said the landing gear touched the runway before it was fully extended and locked. According to the pilot the landing gear collapsed, and the aircraft slid on its belly to a stop on the runway, incurring substantial damage. The pilot said that no mechanical malfunctions existed with either the aircraft, or its systems prior to the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.