# NTSB ATL88LA005: Piper PA-24-180, N5988P, Collegedale, TN, October 8, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 8, 1987, 18:45 local (22:45 UTC)
- Place: Collegedale, TN
- Coordinates: 35.049919, -85.050521 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0499&lon=-85.0505&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 16, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7650
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL88LA005
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7650/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL88LA005

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Gear not extended, landing - flare/touchdown
  - checklist - not followed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - gear extension - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
  - wheels up landing - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - aborted landing - attempted

## Analysis

THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN WHILE THE LDG GEAR WERE EXTENDING. A WITNESS REPORTED THAT THE ACFT BEGAN THE LDG FLARE WITH THE GEAR COMPLETELY RETRACTED, AND THAT THE GEAR BEGAN TO EXTEND WHEN THE AIRPLANE WAS 3-4 FT ABOVE THE RWY. THE MAIN LDG GEAR CONTACTED THE RWY AND COLLAPSED. THE ENGINE SOUND IMMEDIATELY INCREASED TO A 'HIGH PWR LEVEL' AND THE ACFT LIFTED OFF AT A HIGH CLIMB ANGLE. AT 10-12 FT AGL, THE ENGINE SOUND 'CUT SHARPLY' AND THE ACFT DROPPED BACK TO THE RWY AND SLID TO A STOP. ANOTHER WITNESS REPORTED THAT AS THE ACFT CROSSED THE RWY THRESHOLD, THE PLT WAS ADVISED VIA UNICOM TO CHECK HIS LDG GEAR. THE WITNESS OBSERVED THE LDG GEAR BEGIN TO EXTEND SHORTLY THEREAFTER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5988P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5988P-1990-03-19), registration cancelled 1990-03-19, S/N 241081 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24-180
- Registry model: [Piper PA-24-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-180) (registry code 7102403) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 24-1081
- Airframe hours: 2552
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Edgar H. Lawman, Jr.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 13, 1986
- Departed: CHA, CHATTANOOGA, TN
- Airport: 3M3, Collegedale Municipal, runway 3, 3,335 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 60; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 970 total, 90 in this make and model, 690 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 315° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19871008059059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871008059059A), Oct 8, 1987: Piper PA24, Collegedale, TN, Substantial damage. Lowered gear too late for full extension prior landing. Warned of gear up prior touchdown. Alcohol on pilots breath

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.