Montgomery Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

San Diego, California 92123
Friday, July 23, 2004 20:03 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The right main landing gear collapsed during rollout following a normal touchdown on the runway. Thereafter, directional control was lost, and the right wing struck the surface of the runway. The airplane veered off the runway, and it came to rest in an adjacent open dirt field. During flight the pilot had experienced a low voltage condition, and his radio communications became problematic as the battery gradually discharged. The pilot cycled the airplane's master electric system switch in accordance with instructions in the Cessna Pilot's Operator's Handbook. Because this did not restore electric power, the pilot reduced the electrical load to conserve energy. No evidence of any mechanical malfunction was found during the post impact examination of the landing gear and alternator/battery electric system. During the examination the alternator field circuit breaker was found in the tripped position. The examination revealed that when the alternator circuit breaker was reset, electric current was restored to the buss and the battery was charging. Prior to landing, the pilot failed to properly perform procedures relating to ensuring that the alternator circuit breaker was engaged. Also, the pilot failed to ensure that the landing gear was fully extended by using the emergency gear extension system.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to ensure that the landing gear was fully extended, by use of the emergency gear extension system, which resulted in its partial collapse during landing rollout. Also causal was the pilot's failure to follow POH procedures relating to troubleshooting and restoring electric power to the airplane busses.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/23/2004
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 2003
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City San Diego
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 92123
Event Date Year 2004
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 324856N
Event Location Longitude 1170822W
Event Location Airport Montgomery Field
Event Location Nearest Airport ID MYF
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 427
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2008 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID MYF
Elevation of weather observation facility 427
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Dusk
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 19
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 16
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 290
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.87
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 19364
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Jul 23 2004 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2030
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Mar 28 2006 1:55PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office San Diego, CA

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5167R
NTSB Number LAX04LA277
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 172RG
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 172RG0043
Certified Max Gross Weight 2650
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 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 7218
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name San Diego Flight Training Int'l Inc.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 8745 Aero Drive, Suite 103
Aircraft Owner City San Diego
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 92123
Operator is an individual? No
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 UFIV
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code MYF
Departure City San Diego
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1910
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code MYF
Destination City San Diego
Destination State CA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing - roll
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Jan 5 2006 5:22PM
User who most recently changed record COOS
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 28R
Runway Length 4577
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --