Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

March 6, 2002 · Unander Velocity 173RG · N278GJ

West Jordan, UT

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 6, 2002
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
West Jordan, UT
Aircraft
Unander Velocity 173RG
Tail Number
N278GJ
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
SEA02LA050

The pilot reported that he was attempting a landing after dark on runway 16 at the non-towered airport. The accident pilot reported that as he was turning base for runway 16, another aircraft (registration number not reported or determined), which he had passed on the way into Salt Lake #2 Airport, announced that he was entering downwind for runway 34. The pilot reported that he attempted to talk to the pilot of the other aircraft on the radio, but got no response. The pilot stated that he put the gear switch down, but forgot to check for three green lights since his attention was diverted to the other aircraft. The pilot stated that he saw the other aircraft turning final as he (the accident pilot) was about to flare. The pilot reported that he then attempted to initiate a go-around, but the aircraft's propeller struck the runway and the engine stopped. The aircraft touched down on the sod on the side of the runway and subsequently struck an object on the ground and slid partially back onto the runway. The pilot stated that the other aircraft subsequently landed on runway 34 and went past the accident aircraft. An FAA inspector who was at the airport at the time reported that the landing gear handle was in the "down" position at the accident scene, but that the gear appeared to have never come out of the wells. The pilot of the other aircraft was not identified to the NTSB, and was not contacted. The pilot reported that a hydraulic down pressure switch had failed, disabling normal landing gear extension.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to ensure that the gear was extended prior to landing. Factors included a failure of a hydraulic down-pressure switch, and the pilot's attention diverted to another aircraft executing an opposite-direction traffic pattern.

Full Narrative

On March 5, 2002, approximately 1855 mountain standard time, an Unander Velocity 173RG experimental-category amateur-built airplane, N278GJ, was substantially damaged in a gear-up landing at Salt Lake City Municipal Airport #2 (Salt Lake #2), West Jordan, Utah. The private pilot-in-command and one passenger were not injured in the accident. Visual meteorological conditions were reported at Salt Lake #2 at 1855, and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR 91 personal flight from Wendover, Utah. The pilot reported that he was attempting a landing after dark on runway 16 at the non-towered airport. The accident pilot reported that as he was turning base for runway 16, another aircraft (registration number not reported or determined), which he had passed on the way into Salt Lake #2, announced that he was entering downwind for runway 34. The pilot reported that he attempted to talk to the pilot of the other aircraft on the radio, but got no response (NOTE: According to the U.S. Government Airport/Facility Directory (A/FD), Salt Lake #2's Common Traffic Advisory Frequency [CTAF] frequency is 122.7 MHz.) The pilot stated that he put the gear switch down, but forgot to check for three green lights since his attention was diverted to the other aircraft. The pilot stated that he saw the other aircraft turning final as he (the accident pilot) was about to flare. The pilot reported that he then attempted to initiate a go-around, but the aircraft's propeller struck the runway and the engine stopped. The aircraft touched down on the sod on the side of the runway and subsequently struck an object on the ground and slid partially back onto the runway. The pilot stated that the other aircraft subsequently landed on runway 34 and went past the accident aircraft. An FAA inspector who was at the airport at the time reported that the landing gear handle was in the "down" position at the accident scene, but that the gear appeared to have never come out of the wells. The pilot of the other aircraft was not identified to the NTSB and was not contacted. The pilot reported that a hydraulic down pressure switch (part number 0166-41604-3-064) had failed, disabling normal landing gear extension. The pilot reported the total time on the part as 3 hours, and stated that he had just replaced this switch after a previous switch had failed. The pilot indicated in his NTSB accident report that the aircraft kit maker, Velocity Aircraft of Sebastian, Florida, had been made aware of this problem. Salt Lake #2 is equipped with an AWOS-3 automated weather observation system (AWOS) that broadcasts automated weather observations on 134.425 MHz. Winds at the airport were reported as being calm at 1755, then from 240 degrees true at 8 knots at 1855 and from 250 degrees true at 7 knots at 1955. The A/FD does not specify a calm-wind or preferred runway for the airport.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time18:55 MST
Nearest AirportSalt Lake City Municipal 2 (0nm)
Runway16
Runway Length5860 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftUnander Velocity 173RG
Tail NumberN278GJ
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · LIO-360-C1E6 · Reciprocating · 200
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 47 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDark Night
Wind224° @ 8 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point39 C / 23 C
Altimeter29.98 inHg
Observation Time01:55
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data