Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to extend the landing gear due to his distraction by talking on the radio, which resulted in a gear-up landing.
NTSB analysis
The pilot reported that, his first approach to land in the airplane was a little fast and high, so he raised the gear and applied full power for the go-around. During the second approach, he was talking with a person on the ground over the radio. Subsequently, he got distracted and landed with the landing gear in the up-and-locked position.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage.
The pilot reported in a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge that the gear-up warning switch had been disabled.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for GAA18CA148 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Feb 16, 2018
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Locust Grove, Georgia
- Nearest airport
- Mallards Landing (GA04)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Dusk
Amateur-built VELOCITY XL RG
- N-number
- N551ZL
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 2003
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.