Cessna 172RG Landing Gear Accident at San Felipe Aerodrome

Overview and Flight Details On 14 February 2023, at approximately 13:20 local time, a Cessna 172RG aircraft was involved in an accident at Aeródromo Víctor Lafón (SCSF) in San Felipe, Valparaíso Region, Chile. The aircraft, a 1980 model with serial number 172RG0156, had taken off from Aeródromo San Rafael (SCAN) in Los Andes around 12:30 local time for a proficiency flight. The destination was approximately 9.5 kilometers away. ## Sequence of Events During the flight, the pilot conducted four normal 180-degree no-power approaches with touch-and-go landings on runway 34. On the fifth maneuver, the pilot failed to lower the landing gear. The aircraft made contact with the runway surface with the gear in the retracted position and came to a stop approximately 400 meters north of the runway 34 threshold. ## Damage and Injuries The pilot, a 23-year-old Chilean private pilot, was uninjured. The aircraft sustained significant damage, including both propeller blades bent backward and worn, and abrasions on the ventral part of the fuselage. The engine was subject to inspection. No other damage was reported. ## Aircraft and Pilot Information The aircraft was powered by a Lycoming O-360-F1A6 engine and equipped with a McCauley B2D34C220 propeller. It had 3,288.1 flight hours and was using 100LL aviation gasoline. The pilot held a valid private pilot license for single-engine land aircraft and had 199 total flight hours, with 20.8 hours in the same type of aircraft.