Montgomery Reg/Dannelly Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Montgomery, Alabama 36108
Wednesday, September 15, 2004 10:45 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During cruise flight, the pilot heard and felt a "thud" and detected an odor of "hydraulic fluid burning." The pilot diverted to an airport for landing, and his attempts to lower the landing gear using both normal and emergency procedures were unsuccessful. When the airplane touched down on the runway, the landing gear collapsed, and the airplane veered left and struck a taxiway light. Examination revealed the landing gear would not function. The landing gear hydraulic system was found depleted of fluid, and a hydraulic line on the nose gear actuator was found separated from its swedge fitting. Examination of the line revealed no evidence of abnormal wear. A review of Service Difficulty Reports on file with the Federal Aviation Administration for Cessna 172RGs revealed one similar event reported in 2001 in which a hydraulic line on the nose gear actuator was found separated from its swedge fitting.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The separation of a hydraulic line for undetermined reasons, which resulted in a hydraulic fluid leak and malfunction of the landing gear.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/15/2004
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1045
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Montgomery
Event State ALABAMA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 36108
Event Date Year 2004
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 321802N
Event Location Longitude 0862338W
Event Location Airport Montgomery Reg/Dannelly Field
Event Location Nearest Airport ID KMGM
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 --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1027 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID KMGM
Elevation of weather observation facility 221
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 1300
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 20
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 70
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 14
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 21
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.01
Density Altitude (feet) 1516
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KMGM 151353Z 08014KT 9SM OVC016 24/20 A3000
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) 16658
NTSB Notification Source FAA Comm Center
NTSB Notification Date Sep 15 2004 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1216
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Dec 3 2004 9:35AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Birmingham FSDO - 09

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N948SM
NTSB Number ATL04CA186
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 172RG
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 172RG1057
Certified Max Gross Weight --
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 --
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name George L Ousley
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City --
Aircraft Owner State --
Aircraft Owner Country --
Aircraft Owner Zipcode --
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 8180 Bay View Dr
Operator City Foley
Operator State AL
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 36535
Operator Code --
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board --
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code KAIV
Departure City Aliceville
Departure State AL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1000
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code KSEM
Destination City Selma
Destination State AL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing - flare/touchdown
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Oct 15 2004 1:42PM
User who most recently changed record POWP
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 10
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --