# NTSB CEN13IA177: TTX Air Lancair, N613TX, Indianapolis, IN, February 21, 2013

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: February 21, 2013, 09:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place: Indianapolis, IN
- Coordinates: 39.830833, -86.294441 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.8308&lon=-86.2944&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 December 11, 2013
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA -- Indianapolis Flight Standards, Lancair International, Inc.
- NTSB case key (mKey): 86304
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13IA177
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86304/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86304
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13IA177

## Probable cause

The pilots' failure to verify landing gear extension before landing.

## Findings

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

- [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Flight crew (probable cause); cases with it: [TTX Air LANCAIR EVOLUTION, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=05631IL), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: use of checklist](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Flight crew (probable cause); cases with it: [TTX Air LANCAIR EVOLUTION, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md?model=05631IL), [All aircraft, 336 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/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: [TTX Air LANCAIR EVOLUTION, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=05631IL), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [TTX Air LANCAIR EVOLUTION, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=05631IL), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [TTX Air LANCAIR EVOLUTION, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=05631IL), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot and flight instructor were conducting takeoffs and landings in the airport traffic pattern when the incident occurred. The pilot stated that, during the incident landing, he lowered the landing gear selector handle while on the downwind traffic pattern leg, abeam the runway end. The pilot stated that he intended to execute a no-flap, full-stop landing and that, because he was concentrating on the no-flap landing, he might not have properly verified the landing gear position before landing. The pilots recalled hearing the landing gear aural warning as the airplane entered the landing flare with the engine power at idle. The airplane contacted the runway before a go-around could be initiated. The landing gear extension/retraction system and the landing gear position indicator lights operated normally during a postincident examination. During the examination, the landing gear aural warning system activated at a simulated airspeed of 100 knots.

## Factual narrative

On February 21, 2013, about 0930 eastern standard time, a TTX Lancair Evolution airplane, N613TX, sustained minor damage during a gear-up landing at the Eagle Creek Airpark (EYE), Indianapolis, Indiana. The pilot and flight instructor were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by TTX Air, LLC, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not operated on a flight plan. The local flight originated from EYE about 0910.The pilot reported that they were conducting takeoffs and landings in the airport traffic pattern when the incident occurred. He noted that the first two landings were uneventful. He stated that after the third takeoff, the landing gear position indicator lights remained green (indicating gear down) after the selector handle was moved to the retracted position. The selector handle was cycled and the landing gear appeared to retract normally at that time. The next landing and takeoff were routine. The pilot stated that on the next landing, he intended to execute a no-flap (flaps up) full stop landing. He stated that the landing gear selector handle was lowered on the downwind traffic pattern leg, abeam the end of the runway. The pilot noted that becoming fixated on the requirements of the no-flap landing likely precluded his confirmation of the landing gear position; three green indicator lights. He recalled hearing the landing gear warning tone as the airplane entered the landing flare with the engine power at idle. This was shortly before the airplane contacted the runway with the landing gear retracted. In his report, the pilot noted a breakdown in crew resource management and checklist usage. The flight instructor reported that the pilot selected landing gear down abeam the landing point on the runway while on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern. He noted that they were focused on maintaining the proper airspeed and approach angle. He did not recall verifying the landing gear position indication. As the airspeed decreased below 95 knots on final approach, he became aware of the landing gear warning tone. However, the airplane began to contact the runway before he could initiate a go-around. The airplane came to rest with the landing gear retracted in the grass area, about 30 feet east of runway 3. The airplane traveled about 1,844 feet from the initial touchdown point to the final resting point. Two runway lights were damaged during the runway excursion. A postincident examination of the landing gear extension/retraction system did not reveal any anomalies. The extension/retraction cycles were initiated with the cockpit landing gear selector switch. The landing gear position indicator lights operated normally during the examination. The landing gear aural warning system activated at a simulated airspeed of 100 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N613TX](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N613TX), registered now, S/N EVO-0039, built 2012 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: TTX Air LLC Lancair (Evolution)
- Registry model: [TTX Air LANCAIR EVOLUTION](https://openairdocs.org/model/ttx-air-lancair-evolution) (registry code 05631IL) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-135](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-135) (registry code 52173, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: EVO-0039
- Airframe hours: 46
- Engines: P&W Canada PT6A-135 turbo prop
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: TTX Air, LLC
- Registered owner: TTX Air, LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, June 12, 2012, 46 hours before
- Departed: EYE, Indianapolis, IN
- Destination: EYE, Indianapolis, IN
- Airport: EYE, Eagle Creek, runway 03, 4,200 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 13, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 12,833 total, 2 in this make and model, 11,828 as pilot in command, 90 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours
- Flight instructor; age 43; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 18, 2013; seat: right; flight hours: 3,200 total, 50 in this make and model, 2,850 as pilot in command, 90 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 50° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,600 ft overcast
- Temperature: 23 °F, dew point 16 °F
- Altimeter: 30.31 inHg
- Observed at: EYE, 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 20130221002669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130221002669A), Feb 21, 2013: Ttx Air LLC LANCAIR EVOLUTION, Indianapolis, IN, Substantial damage. On 02/21/2013, N613TX, a Lancair Evolution, was conducting touch and go takeoffs and landings at the Eagle Creek Airpark (eye) in Indianapolis, IN. On the…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 31, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86304. 877 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 321 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40389121&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Pilot/Instructor Statements (item 2, .PDF, 387 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40389127&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FInstructor%20Statements-Redacted.PDF
- FAA Inspector Statement (item 3, .PDF, 106 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40389175&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Redacted.PDF
- Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 4, .PDF, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40389162&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-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.

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