Summary
On August 24, 2020, a Northrop F5 (N926TA) was involved in an incident near Reno, NV. All 1 person aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot's failure to complete the pre-landing checklist due to a distraction which resulted in a gear-up landing.
The operator reported that while the pilot was in the airport traffic pattern, he was distracted by a radio transmission on the common traffic advisory frequency from additional landing traffic at the airport. The operator stated that the pilot continued his approach to landing, with the landing gear still retracted, having not completed the landing checklist. While on final approach, the pilot received a "terrain, terrain" alert, and perceived he was slightly low, and added power. Subsequently, the airplane landed gear up. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the horizontal stabilizer.
The operator reported that there were no pre-accident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
This incident is documented in NTSB report WPR20CA286. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N926TA.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's failure to complete the pre-landing checklist due to a distraction which resulted in a gear-up landing.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
The operator reported that while the pilot was in the airport traffic pattern, he was distracted by a radio transmission on the common traffic advisory frequency from additional landing traffic at the airport. The operator stated that the pilot continued his approach to landing, with the landing gear still retracted, having not completed the landing checklist. While on final approach, the pilot received a "terrain, terrain" alert, and perceived he was slightly low, and added power. Subsequently, the airplane landed gear up. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the horizontal stabilizer.
The operator reported that there were no pre-accident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# WPR20CA286