# Incident 20160521006879I: Piper PA-44-180, Opelika, AL, May 21, 2016

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 21, 2016, 17:45 local time
- Place: Opelika, AL
- Airport: Auburn University Regional
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: Pilot school (Part 141)
- Location: 32.6151° N, 85.4340° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at AUBURN UNIVERSITY RGNL (AUO), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.6151&lon=-85.4340&mi=10
- Aircraft: N555HF, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N555HF) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-44-180 (registry code 7104402, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-44-180) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series (registry code 41514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-44-180
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O&VO-360 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 1,054 total, 96 in this make and model, 105 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160521006879I

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ON MAY 21, 2016 AT APPRX. 1745 LOCAL TIME INSTRUCTOR ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS FLIGHT INSTRUCTING A STUDENT IN N555HF, A PA-44, PIPER SEMINOLE, AT AUBURN AIRPORT (AOU)FOR AUBURN UNIVERSITY... THE WEATHER WAS VFR WITH LITTLE OR NO WIND...THE INSTRUCTOR HAD JUST DONE A SHORT-FIELD LANDING WITH HIS STUDENT AND THE LANDING WAS LONG SO THEY WANTED TO ATTEMPT ANOTHER SHORT FIELD... THE TAKEOFF AND PATTERN WERE UNEVENTFUL, HOWEVER; AT THE ABEAM POINT OF LANDING WHERE THE GEAR SHOULD HAVE BEEN LOWERED, THE INSTRUCTOR WAS BUSY CORRECTING THE STUDENT ON HIS TRAFFIC PATTERN AND FORGOT TO PUT THE GEAR DOWN....THE PATTERN CONTINUED AND THE INSTRUCTOR DID NOT VERIFY THAT THE GEAR HAD NOT BEEN PUT DOWN....HE CLEARED THE EXTENDED FINAL AREA AND THEN LANDED THE AIRCRAFT GEAR UP ON RUNWAY 36.....MINOR DAMAGE, NO INJURIES.

## Other reports on N555HF (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20250821013089I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250821013089I), Aug 21, 2025: Piper PA-44-180 (N555HF), Terrel, TX, Minor damage. PIC (CFI) was performing training in the pattern with a student. During the downwind leg of flight pilots were notified there was traffic in the vicinity and…
- [Accident 20250110000109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250110000109A), Jan 10, 2025: Piper PA-44-180 (N555HF), Pompano Beach, FL, Substantial damage. After completing MEI check ride and several touch-and-go's, aircraft headed back to pmp for normal landing. Aircraft turned base for final approach and pilot…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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