On February 21, 1987, a Cessna R-182 (registration N756KZ) operated by Armel Aviation, Ltd. was involved in an aviation accident near Martinsburg, WV. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to complete the final pre-landing checklist due to distraction by traffic and a shortened landing pattern, compounded by tower personnel violating procedures regarding holding instructions and failing to remind the pilot to check wheel… This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot failed to complete a final pre-landing checklist because of traffic concentration and a shortened landing pattern. Tower personnel also violated procedures by not reminding the pilot to verify wheel position.
What happened
The pilot reported that he did not perform the final pre-landing check. This omission occurred because his attention was focused on nearby air traffic and the unusually short landing distance he had been instructed to execute.
The investigation
Tower personnel were found to have violated United States Air Force procedures. They requested the aircraft to hold short of the east-west runway for landing. Additionally, they failed to remind the pilot to confirm that the wheels were down before landing.
Findings
The failure to complete the checklist was a result of divided attention during a high-workload phase of flight. The tower's procedural violations contributed to the lack of critical verification.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to complete the final pre-landing checklist due to distraction by traffic and a shortened landing pattern, compounded by tower personnel violating procedures regarding holding instructions and failing to remind the pilot to check wheel position.
Frequently asked questions
What happened in the 21 Feb 1987 Cessna R-182 accident near Martinsburg, WV?
A pilot failed to complete a final pre-landing checklist because of traffic concentration and a shortened landing pattern. Tower personnel also violated procedures by not reminding the pilot to verify wheel position.
What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?
The accident on 21 Feb 1987 involved a Cessna R-182, registration N756KZ, operated by Armel Aviation, Ltd., at Martinsburg, WV.
What was the probable cause of the accident?
The pilot's failure to complete the final pre-landing checklist due to distraction by traffic and a shortened landing pattern, compounded by tower personnel violating procedures regarding holding instructions and failing to remind the pilot to check wheel position.
A SkyWalk Join't 3 paraglider crashed into the ground near Las Vizcachas, Chile, on September 1, 2024. The pilot and passenger sustained serious spinal…
PARAPENTE (ULTRALIVIANO NO MOTORIZADO)·2024-09-01DGAC Chile
A Cessna 172N struck electrical cables while on final approach to land at Aucó Aerodrome in Chile. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained damage…
A Bombardier DHC-8-402 suffered a tail strike during landing at Puerto Williams on September 9, 2024. All 76 occupants were unharmed, but the aircraft…
A MYD JS-MD 3 glider veered off the runway and struck a wall at Vitacura Aerodrome on January 6, 2025. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained…
A recreational paraglider flight in Puchuncaví, Chile, ended with the pilot sustaining serious injuries after a rapid descent and impact with a hillside on…
PARAPENTE (ULTRALIVIANO NO MOTORIZADO)·2025-03-29DGAC Chile
A Tecnam P2006T landed on its belly at an aerodrome in Poland after the crew failed to confirm landing gear deployment. The incident resulted in no injuries…