Cessna Cardinal RG Wheels-up Landing

A Cessna Cardinal RG makes a wheels-up landing at Gillespie Field in El Cajon, CA (KSEE) on 4.23.2008. Here's a "before" picture:

http://www.jftaviation.com/pics/Cardinal.jpg

In the background (other side of the runway) you can see a bunch of spectators in commercial pilot's uniforms. Here's the crash from their perspective:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbbgoH0C2HY

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Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Airplane
• crash
• landing
• gear
• up
• wheels
• cessna
• cardinal
• rg

[TUBEDOUGH]

Why didn't he shut off the engine? Time a for an engine overhaul now!

[rsduhamel]

Someone told me that they don't want to stop the engine in case they have to go around.

[stevenlong4289]

looks like an entire flight school worth of students standing there watching haha, good example for 'em.

[rsduhamel]

Actually, those are commercial pilots at a jet charter service.

[alan2526]

i heard someone mention near the end of the video about the pilots door being open. That is routine for an emergency landing, that is part of the checklist in smaller a/c. Cracking the door on your descent will prevent the door from becoming wedged shut and trapping you inside should the airframe bend around the door.

[rsduhamel]

Makes sense. Thanks for the comment.

[FightingHerk]

Perfact.

[straighttailpilot]

@TUBEDOUGH no need to overhaul. the engine didnt impact the ground. good engine. he left it cause his front gear locked.

[angamah]

@TUBEDOUGH why?! the prop hasn't even touched the ground....

[emoore1978]

prop never touched the ground.....good job!!!! so why the fuss over the engine????

[AirCanada04]

@TUBEDOUGH In a Cessna (Especially the Cardinal RG) the engine needs to be on during the decent. I don't know why, its a textbook rule.

[sunniski]

That was pretty smooth considering all.... The sky God smiled upon your return : ) 

[jwboll]

@TUBEDOUGH

because every landing this pilot has ever done in this plane has been with the engine on, this is not the time to take up gliding, and see how she handles, when all those "powered" practice landings are about to pay off.

also, it looks like the nose wheel locked, and the prop didn't strike anything. (the grinding noise is the main gear and tail dragging)

[jwboll]

@TUBEDOUGH

because every landing this pilot has ever done in this plane has been with the engine on, this is not the time to take up gliding, and see how she handles, when all those "powered" practice landings are about to pay off.

also, it looks like the nose wheel locked, and the prop didn't strike anything.

[kf6fqd]

Yep, the rod-end failed on retraction after takeoff. I'm the A&P who works on that plane, plus about 100+ flight hours in it as well. Great plane, a real dream to fly. It was interesting how little damage happened to the plane; the worst part was the cowl when it hit the runway sign. Everything else was minor and easy to fix. Since the nose gear was down and locked, the prop never hit.

[QuickBurn70]

I remember this. They barely missed hitting a runway light at the end of the skid there..

BTW, this Cardinal was flying again a few weeks later, and I still see it quite often.