South Lake Tahoe Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

S. Lake Tahoe, California 96150
Saturday, August 21, 1999 9:05 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot believed that he completed the GUMP check on approach, but he was distracted by traffic while entering the pattern and did not verify that the green gear down light was illuminated or verify visually that the gear was extended. In the landing flare he realized too late that the gear was not extended and landed gear-up. The pilot said that the gear system had a history of problems with the indicator lights and warning horn. The gear and its warning systems were inspected. After selection of either the up or down positions, the GEAR PUMP circuit breaker would open prior to completion of the cycle. When the circuit breaker was reset the gear continued to its selected position. The green gear indication light illuminated about 10 seconds after cycle completion; however, the aural warning horn did not sound immediately and was faint when it did engage. There was no damage found to the tire sidewalls, gear struts or wheels, indicating that the landing gear was fully retracted on touchdown. Placement of the gear handle in the down position caused the gear to fall from the stowed position whether the power was on or off. The fuselage was distorted from a prior ground damage incident where the airplane was blown over in high winds while parked. The incident corresponded to the onset of the gear system discrepancies.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to verify the landing gear was in the extended position. A factor in the accident was gear warning system's unresolved discrepancies.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/21/1999
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 905
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City S. LAKE TAHOE
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 96150
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport SOUTH LAKE TAHOE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID TVL
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 6264
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 854 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 180
Weather Observation Facility ID RNO
Elevation of weather observation facility 4412
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 38
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 14
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1717
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 21 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1150
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Aug 14 2001 1:56PM
User who most recently changed record MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4809R
NTSB Number LAX99LA278
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model TR182
Aircraft Series Identifier TR182
Aircraft Serial Number R18200610
Certified Max Gross Weight 3300
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Apr 15 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 60
Airframe Hours 1250
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name RANDALL M. WALLACE
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1537 W. SUNSET DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City SALT LAKE CITY
Aircraft Owner State UT
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 84116
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code O61
Departure City CAMERON PARK
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1000
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code SLC
Destination City SALT LAKE CITY
Destination State UT
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 14 2001 10:25AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 18
Runway Length 8544
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --