# Accident 20231029017989A: Piper PA-39, Highgate, VT, October 29, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 29, 2023, 11:45 local time
- Place: Highgate, VT
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Rollout
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 44.9403° N, 73.0975° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.9403&lon=-73.0975&mi=10
- Aircraft: N289WW, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N289WW) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-39 (registry code 7103902, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-39) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-290 series (registry code 41506, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-39
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-290 SERIES
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 25,000 total, 154 in this make and model, 27 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA24LA046](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA046) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231029017989A

## Narrative

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

WHILE CONDUCTING A LOCAL FLIGHT, THE PILOT FLEW A NORMAL APPROACH AND LANDING TO RUNWAY 36 AT KFSO. DURING THE LANDING ROLLOUT THE PIC WENT TO RETRACT THE FLAPS AND INSTEAD HIT THE GEAR UP SWITCH. PIC IMMEDIATELY REALIZED THE MISTAKE AND RETURNED THE SWITCH TO THE DOWN POSITION, THE GEAR BEGAN TO RETRACT, LETTING THE AIRCRAFT SETTLE ON THE BELLY. PROPELLERS STRUCK THE RUNWAY AND STOPPED THE ENGINES AS THE AIRCRAFT SKIDDED TO A STOP. PIC INITIATED AN EVACUATION.PILOT ADMITTED REACHING OVER FOR THE FLAP HANDLE AND RETRACTED THE LANDING GEAR HANDLE INSTEAD WITHOUT LOOKING AT THE CONTROLS.

## 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 ERA24LA046](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA046), Oct 29, 2023: Piper PA-39 (N289WW), Highgate, VT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadvertent retraction of the landing gear during landing rollout, which resulted in a landing gear collapse.

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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