Cessna 177RG N2572V

Summary

On 15 March 2023 at about 19:35 local time, a Cessna 177RG registered N2572V was involved in an accident near Spanish Fork, Utah, 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

15 March 2023 at 19:35

Classification

Accident

Location

Spanish Fork, Utah, United States

Nearest airport

Spanish Fork Muni/Woodhouse Fl (SPK)

Coordinates

40.1450, -111.6677

Aircraft

Cessna 177RG

Registration

N2572V

Category

Airplane

Year built

1974

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Provo → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR23LA136

Nobody was injured.

The retraction of the main landing gear for undetermined reasons.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that the landing gear hydraulic pump indicator relay and diode were replaced before he departed on the accident flight. Maintenance personnel performed ground checks and function tests that indicated the landing gear hydraulic pump was operational with no defects. The pilot confirmed that during takeoff and approach for landing all functions of the landing gear indication system were normal. The pilot reported that he moved the flap lever to the 10° down position during the landing roll to prevent the airplane from “dancing around.” Subsequently, the landing gear retracted, causing the airplane’s tail section to skid along the asphalt runway, with the nose landing gear remaining extended and locked. Postaccident examination of the landing gear system revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The landing gear function check was performed using steps outlined in the manufacturer’s maintenance manual. The function checks revealed normal operating parameters, with no anomalies noted throughout the examination. The pilot reported that, to prevent the airplane from dancing around during the landing roll, he normally retracted the flaps to get more weight on the wheels and better brake effectiveness. The pilot recalled that he raised the flap lever to the 10° flap down position. As the airplane’s speed decreased, the main landing gear retracted, and it is possible that the pilot unintentionally retracted the landing gear during the landing roll.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.