# Accident 20250320003179A: Piper PA-28R-201T, Liberal, KS, March 20, 2025

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 20, 2025, 12:40 local time
- Place: Liberal, KS
- Airport: Liberal Mid-America Regional
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.0439° N, 100.9600° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0439&lon=-100.9600&mi=10
- Aircraft: N38871, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N38871) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28R-201T (registry code 7102813, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-201t) (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-28R-201T
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,004 total, 61 in this make and model, 4 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN25LA133](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA133) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250320003179A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT AFTER DEPARTING FROM RUNWAY 17 AT LIBERAL MID-AMERICA REGIONAL AIRPORT (KLBL) IN LIBERAL, KS ON MARCH 20, 2025, A LOUD SLAPPING SOUND WAS HEARD ORIGINATING FROM OUTSIDE THE RIGHT FRONT DOOR. THE PILOT DETERMINED THAT THE SOUND WAS CAUSED BY THE RIGHT SEATBELT CAUGHT OUTSIDE THE DOOR. TO REMEDY THE ISSUE, THE PILOT ELECTED TO CIRCLE BACK AND LAND.

THE PILOT REPORTED DISTRACTIONS THAT INCLUDED THE LOUD SLAPPING SOUND, ANOTHER AIRCRAFT COMMUNICATING INTENTIONS TO LAND AT KLBL, AND A CROSSWIND DURING FINAL APPROACH. WHILE CONCENTRATING ON THE LANDING, THE PILOT REPORTED NOT PERFORMING ANY BEFORE-LANDING CHECKS. THE AIRCRAFT SUBSEQUENTLY LANDED GEAR UP ON RUNWAY 17.

NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES WERE REPORTED OR DISCOVERED THAT WOULD HAVE PRECLUDED NORMAL OPERATION OF THE AIRCRAFT.

## 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 CEN25LA133](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA133), Mar 20, 2025: Piper PA-28R-201T (N38871), Liberal, KS, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to extend the landing gear before landing due to distraction and his failure to conduct the prelanding checklist.

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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