# NTSB CEN10CA533: Piper PA46-310P, N24WW, Farmington, NM, September 12, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 12, 2010, 12:04 local (18:04 UTC) - Place: Farmington, NM - Coordinates: 36.738056, -108.224441 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.7381&lon=-108.2244&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 5, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Albuquerque FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 77258 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10CA533 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77258/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77258 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA533 ## Probable cause The pilot’s premature retraction of the landing gear and the flaps during landing. Contributing to the accident was the inadvertent dimming of the cockpit lighting, resulting in a perceived unsafe gear configuration. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: gear extension and retract sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-46-310P, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=7104605), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-46-310P, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=7104605), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Indicating/recording systems: central warning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023150): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-46-310P, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023150/cases.md?model=7104605), [All aircraft, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023150/cases.md) - [Environmental issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03040000): Environmental issues › Task environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-46-310P, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03040000/cases.md?model=7104605), [All aircraft, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03040000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Piper PA-46-310P, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=7104605), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-46-310P, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=7104605), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-46-310P, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7104605), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-46-310P, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7104605), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was landing after completing a practice instrument landing system approach in bright day conditions. The pilot reported that he extended the landing gear and flaps when he was about three miles from the airport. The airplane crossed the threshold of the runway and was just about to touch down when the pilot noticed that the landing gear green indicator lights appeared not to be illuminated. The pilot applied full throttle and immediately raised the landing gear and flaps. During the go-around attempt the airplane settled and the propeller struck the runway. The pilot held full power and a nose-high attitude as the airspeed decreased. The airplane struck obstructions on the side of the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing. It then came to rest upright approximately halfway down the length of the runway. An inspection of the aircraft systems by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the cockpit lighting dimmer switch, which controlled the illumination intensity of the landing gear lights, was set to the “Night Dim” position. ## Factual narrative The pilot was landing at mid-day in bright sunny conditions after completing a practice instrument landing system (ILS) approach. The pilot reported that he extended the landing gear and flaps when he was about three miles from the airport. The airplane crossed the threshold of the runway and was just about to touchdown when he noticed that the landing gear green indicator lights appeared not to be illuminated. The pilot went to full throttle, and immediately raised the landing gear and flaps. During the go-around attempt the airplane settled and the propeller struck the runway. The pilot held full power and a nose high attitude as the airspeed decreased. The airplane struck obstructions on the side of the runway and came to rest upright approximately 3,000 feet down the 6,704 foot long runway. There was substantial damage to the left wing. The solo pilot was not injured. An inspection of the aircraft systems by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the cockpit lighting dimmer switch was set to the “Night Dim” position. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N24WW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N24WW-2018-01-02), registration cancelled 2018-01-02, S/N 46-8508071, built 1985 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA46-310P - Registry model: [Piper PA-46-310P](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-46-310p) (registry code 7104605) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 46-8508071 - Airframe hours: 4713 - Engines: Continental Motors TSIO 520 Seri reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Avionta LLC - Registered owner: Avionta LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 25, 2010 - Departed: 00C, Durango, CO - Destination: Farmington, NM - Airport: FMN, Four Corners Regional Airport, runway 25, 6,704 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 5, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 2,644 total, 1,060 in this make and model, 2,564 as pilot in command, 123 in the last 90 days, 44 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 30.29 inHg - Observed at: KFMN ## 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 20100912045299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100912045299A), Sep 12, 2010: Piper PA-46-310P, Farmington, NM, Substantial damage. On September 12, 2010 at 1204 MDT, N24WW, a Piper PA-46-310P, malibu, registered to avionta, LLC landed with its gear up on runway 25 at the Farmington four… ## Other investigations on N24WW (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 SEA93LA080](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA93LA080), Mar 19, 1993: Piper PA-46-310P (N24WW), Hailey, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. A FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE SNOWBANK. ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 4, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77258. 424 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 424 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338757&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.