# NTSB CEN10CA026: Piper PA-44-180, N593ND, Grand Forks, ND, October 22, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: October 22, 2009, 10:01 local (15:01 UTC)
- Place: Grand Forks, ND
- Coordinates: 47.947223, -97.173889 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.9472&lon=-97.1739&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 19, 2010
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - Fargo FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 74945
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10CA026
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74945/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74945
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA026

## Probable cause

The flight instructor's failure to ensure the landing gear was extended prior to landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Landing gear system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023200): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not used/operated (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-44-180, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023200/cases.md?model=7104402), [All aircraft, 113 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023200/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-44-180, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=7104402), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-44-180, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=7104402), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Piper PA-44-180, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=7104402), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The accident occurred during an instructional flight while practicing landings. The flight instructor reported that he became distracted while teaching his student and forgot to ensure that the landing gear was extended before landing. He stated that the landing gear warning horn was sounding before touchdown, but he did not realize that the landing gear was not configured until it was too late. Post accident inspection revealed that several fuselage structural components were damaged during the gear-up landing. The flight instructor reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane.

## Factual narrative

The accident occurred during an instructional flight while practicing landings. The flight instructor reported that he became distracted while teaching his student and forgot to ensure that the landing gear was extended before landing. He stated that the landing gear warning horn was sounding before touchdown, but he did not realize that the landing gear was not configured until it was too late. Post accident inspection revealed that several fuselage structural components were damaged during the gear-up landing. The flight instructor reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N593ND](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N593ND), registered now, S/N 4496270, built 2009 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Piper PA-44-180
- Registry model: [Piper PA-44-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-44-180) (registry code 7104402) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360-A1H6](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-a1h6) (registry code 42399, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 4496270
- Airframe hours: 298
- Engines: Lycoming LO-360-A1H6 180 horsepower reciprocating; Lycoming O-360-A1H6 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: UND Aerospace Foundation
- Registered owner: UND Aerospace Foundation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, October 15, 2009
- Departed: KGFK, Grand Forks, ND
- Destination: KGFK, Grand Forks, ND
- Airport: KGFK, Grand Forks International, runway 17L, 7,349 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 28; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 14, 2008; seat: right; flight hours: 1,050 total, 176 in this make and model, 829 as pilot in command, 168 in the last 90 days, 73 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours
- Student pilot; age 22; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 8, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 258 total, 26 in this make and model, 70 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 32 °F
- Altimeter: 30.28 inHg
- Observed at: KGFK

## 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 20091022050499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20091022050499A), Oct 22, 2009: Piper PA-44-180, Grand Forks, ND, Substantial damage. CFI and student pilot were conducting a evaluation flight prior to checkride. CFI and student did not follow checklists resulting in a gear up landing.

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 19, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74945. 446 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 446 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40323771&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF

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.