# NTSB CEN10CA116: Piper PA-31T, N723JP, Columbia, MO, February 4, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 4, 2010, 10:43 local (16:43 UTC) - Place: Columbia, MO - Coordinates: 38.818054, -92.219718 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8181&lon=-92.2197&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 28, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA-Kansas City FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 75354 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10CA116 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75354/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75354 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA116 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to verify that the landing gear was fully extended prior to landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-31T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=7103124), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of policy/procedure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063032): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-31T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063032/cases.md?model=7103124), [All aircraft, 191 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063032/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-31T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7103124), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-31T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7103124), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the accident occurred during landing at the destination airport under visual weather conditions and light winds. He stated that upon landing, the left main landing gear collapsed and the left wing contacted the runway. The airplane subsequently departed the runway pavement and came to rest about mid-field in the grass adjacent to the runway. It had rotated about 180 degrees and was oriented on an approximately reciprocal heading. The right main landing gear also collapsed during the accident sequence. The pilot stated that verifying the landing gear indications was normally part of his before-landing procedure; however, he could not specifically recall observing three green indications prior to the accident. A postaccident examination revealed substantial damage to the lower fuselage in the vicinity of the cabin entry door. In addition, the inboard landing gear doors exhibited crushing damage consistent with the landing gear being in transit at the time of contact with the runway. The inboard landing gear doors open when the gear is in transit and close after the gear extension sequence is complete. Recorded winds at the time of the accident were 8 knots. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that the accident occurred during landing at the intended destination airport under visual weather conditions and light winds. He stated that upon landing, the left main landing gear collapsed and the left wing contacted the runway. The airplane subsequently departed the runway pavement and came to rest about mid-field in the grass adjacent to the runway. It had rotated about 180 degrees and was oriented on an approximately reciprocal heading. The right main landing gear also collapsed during the accident sequence. The pilot stated that verifying the landing gear indications was normally part of his before landing procedure. However, he could not specifically recall observing three green indications prior to the accident. A post accident examination revealed substantial damage to the lower fuselage in the vicinity of the cabin entry door. In addition, the inboard landing gear doors exhibited crushing damage consistent with the landing gear being in transit at the time of contact with the runway. The inboard landing gear doors open when the gear is in transit and close after the gear extension sequence is complete. Recorded winds at the time of the accident were 8 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N723JP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N723JP), registered now, S/N 31T-7920009, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31T - Registry model: [Piper PA-31T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31t) (registry code 7103124) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [U/A Canada PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/u-a-canada-pt6a-series) (registry code 61508, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 31T-7920009 - Airframe hours: 6242 - Engines: U/A CANADA PT6A SERIES 715 horsepower turbo prop; U/A CANADA PT6A SERIES 715 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Missouri Forge Inc - Registered owner: Missouri Forge Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, November 30, 2009 - Departed: X33, Doniphan, MO - Destination: COU, Columbia, MO - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: COU, Columbia Regional, runway 02, 6,501 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 5,821 total, 1,850 in this make and model, 5,750 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 8 knots - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: COU, 1 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 20100204026829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100204026829A), Feb 4, 2010: Piper PA-31T, Columbia, MO, Substantial damage. Accident investigation of the landing gear indicates that the gear was in-transit at touchdown. Evidence shows prop strikes on both propellers and landing gear… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 1, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75354. 891 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 841 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40326615&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Conversation Record -- Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 49 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40326616&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Conversation%20Record%20--%20Pilot-Master.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.