Primary finding
Probable cause
Improper flare.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot landed hard, the left main landing gear collapsed, and the aircraft veered to the left off the runway. The air traffic control tower reported that the winds were from 220 degrees at 18 knots at the time of the accident. The pilot stated that the landing gear position indicator lights reflected that the gear was down before touchdown.
Source record
Factual narrative
On August 21, 1997, at 1602 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172RG, N9710B, veered left off the runway after the left main landing gear collapsed during landing at the General William J. Fox Airport, Lancaster, California. The airplane was substantially damaged and the certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The pilot operated the airplane as a personal flight when the accident occurred. The flight originated in Santa Monica, California at 1505. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot reported that after he landed on runway 24, the left main landing gear collapsed and the aircraft veered to the left off the runway. The winds were reported by the air traffic control tower as being from 220 degrees at 18 knots at the time of the accident. The pilot stated that the landing gear position indicator lights reflected that the gear was down before touchdown. -