# NTSB ATL91LA149: Piper PA-31-325, N300HF, Spartanburg, SC, July 31, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 31, 1991, 12:35 local (16:35 UTC)
- Place: Spartanburg, SC
- Coordinates: 35.039855, -81.979125 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0399&lon=-81.9791&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 4, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8449
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL91LA149
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8449/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL91LA149

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE CHECKLIST AND EXTEND THE LANDING GEAR PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN.

## 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 (cause)

## Analysis

THE AIRPLANE WAS LANDED WITH THE LANDING GEAR RETRACTED.  A WITNESS WHO WORKED IN THE AIRPORT MANAGER'S OFFICE NOTED THAT THE GEAR WAS UP WHEN THE AIRPLANE WAS ON SHORT FINAL APPROACH. THE AIRPORT MANAGER NOTED THAT THE LANDING GEAR HANDLE WAS DOWN WHEN THE PILOT EXITED THE AIRPLANE AFTER IT SLID TO A STOP.  NORMALLY, THE GEAR HANDLE RETURNS TO NEUTRAL WHEN THE GEAR FULLY EXTENDS.  ITS POSITION INDICATED THAT THE GEAR HANDLE WAS LOWERED AFTER LANDING.  AN FAA INSPECTOR EXAMINED THE LANDING GEAR AFTER THE ACCIDENT AND NOTED THAT IT FUNCTIONED NORMALLY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N300HF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N300HF-2013-03-12), registration cancelled 2013-03-12, S/N 31-7812008 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31-325
- Registry model: [Piper PA-31-325](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-325) (registry code 7103105) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 31-7812008
- Airframe hours: 2858
- Engines: LYCOMING TIO-520-A2C 325 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Tomark Industries, Inc.
- Registered owner: Tomark Industries, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 12, 1990, 278 hours before
- Departed: PDK, CHAMBLEE, GA
- Destination: SPA, SPARTANBURG, SC
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: SPA, Spartanburg Downtown Mem., runway 4, 5,203 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,263 total, 480 in this make and model, 1,263 as pilot in command, 109 in the last 90 days, 57 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 60° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: GSP, 10 nm away

## 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 19910731030949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910731030949A), Jul 31, 1991: Piper PA31325, Spartanburg, SC, Substantial damage. Landed gedar up. No mechanical defects.

## Other investigations on N300HF (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 CHI89LA013](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI89LA013), Oct 19, 1988: Piper PA-31-350 (N300HF), Big Rapids, MI, substantial damage

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.

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