# Accident 20230901014899A: Piper PA-34-200T, Coolidge, AZ, September 1, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 1, 2023, 13:00 local time
- Place: Coolidge, AZ
- Airport: Coolidge Municipal
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Location: 32.9360° N, 111.4265° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9360&lon=-111.4265&mi=10
- Aircraft: N440DM, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N440DM) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-34-200T (registry code 7103406, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-200t) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental TSIO-360 series (registry code 17019, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-34-200T
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR TSIO-360 SER
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot, student
- Pilot flight hours: 1,057 total, 9 in this make and model, 153 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR23LA332](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA332) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230901014899A

## Narrative

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

THERE WERE TWO CERTIFICATED PILOTS IN THIS AIRCRAFT AT THE TIME OF THIS ACCIDENT. BOTH THE PIC AND SAFETY PILOT HAD LOW FLIGHT TIME IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF AIRCRAFT. THE PIC WAS PERFORMING HIS SECOND, SIMULATED, SINGLE-ENGINE, INSTRUMENT APPROACHS WHILE IN THE SENECA II, AIRCRAFT LEADING INTO THIS EVENT.  THE PILOT IN THE RIGHT SEAT WAS THE ACTING SAFETY PILOT.  COMPANY POLICY REQUIRES TWO PILOTS TO BE IN THIS MAKE/MODEL AIRCRAFT WHEN CONDUCTING INSTRUMENT APPROACHES UNDER VFR CONDITIONS.

WHILE CONDUCTING / SHOOTING THE APPROACH, INBOUND A SECOND TIME ON RUNWAY 23, THE THROTTLE ON THE RIGHT ENGINE WAS SELECTED BY THE PIC AND PULLED BACK. ACCORDINGTO BOTH THE PIC AND ACTING SAFETY PILOT, THE GEAR WARNING HORN NEVER ALARMED. THE PIC CONTINUED THE APPROACH BY ADVANCING POWER TO SIMULATE A FEATHER CONDITION WHILE MAINTAINING 2200 FEET MSL WITH 40 DEGREE FLAPS AND GEAR DOWN.  ALSO, DURING APPROACH, BOTH THE PIC AND SAFETY PILOT ENGAGED IN SHORT DISCUSSION REGARDING DRAG ON AIRCRAFT WHILE MAINTAINING ALTITUDE AND SPEED. HOW EVER, BOTH PILOTS FAILED TO COORDINATE AND REVIEW / VALIDATE CHECK LIST ITEMS. THE ACTING SAFETY PILOT STATED GEAR STATUS HAD BEEN MENTIONED BUT HE COULD NOT RECALL VALIDATING GEAR WAS DOWN. IN ADDITION, HE ASSUMED THE GEAR DOWN SELECTOR WAS PLACED IN THE DOWN POSITION BY THE PIC.  THE CREW CONTINUED THE APPROACH FOR LANDING MAINTAINING A SPEED OF 92MPH. UPON FLARE DURING SINK DOWN OF THE AIRCRAFT, BOTH PILOTS BECAME AWARE THEY SHOULD HAVE FELT THE LANDING GEAR TOUCH THE RUNWAY. IT BECAME APPARENT TO THEM THE LANDING GEAR WAS NOT IN THE DOWN-LOCKED POSITION.  BOTH PILOTS THEN REACTED BY GRABBING THE THROTTLES TO ADVANCE POWER TO THE ENGINES IN ADDITION TO TAKING CONTROL OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS. AT THAT MOMENT BOTH PILOTS HEARD THE GRINDING SOUND OF THE OUTSIDE DOORSTEP SCRAPING THE RUNWAY WHICH CAUSED THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT TO ROTATE DOWNWARD AND BOTH PROPELLORS MAKING CONTACT WITH THE RUNWAY, THUS CAUSING SUDDEN ENGINE STOPPAGE DUE TO THIS GEAR-UP EVENT.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB WPR23LA332](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA332), Sep 1, 2023: Piper PA-34-200T (N440DM), Coolidge, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to extend the landing gear before landing.

## Other reports on N440DM (1)

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

- [Incident 20201030017729I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201030017729I), Oct 30, 2020: Piper PA-34-200T (N440DM), Gold Beach, OR, Minor damage. Pilot landed the aircraft with the gear up. Pilot states that he was sure that he put down the gear but cannot remember seeing the gear down lights. A…

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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