# NTSB CEN21LA105: Piper PA-30, N1236, Navasota, TX, December 28, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 28, 2020, 16:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Navasota, TX - Coordinates: 30.37323, -96.1145 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.3732&lon=-96.1145&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: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 102481 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA105 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102481/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102481 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA105 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to extend the landing gear before 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-30, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023200/cases.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 113 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023200/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063000/cases.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 111 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063000/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of checklist](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md?model=7103002), [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-flare/touchdown: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he recently purchased the accident airplane to transition from large airplanes back to small airplanes. He conducted a normal, uneventful flight. When he approached the airport to land, he went through the “GUMP” checklist twice. However, when the airplane touched down onto the runway the landing gear was retracted which resulted in substantial damage to the underlying structure of the lower fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation During a postaccident telephone conversation, the pilot mentioned that he accidentally merged the “GUMPS” check with a checklist he commonly used for large airplanes. He further reported that the airplane was not equipped with a landing gear horn, therefore, he was not alerted of the unsafe landing gear condition. He further stated that a landing gear warning horn will be installed on the airplane during the repair process. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1236](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1236), registered now, S/N 30-1167 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-30 - Registry model: [Piper PA-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30) (registry code 7103002) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 30-1167 - Year built: 1966 - Airframe hours: 3999 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-320 SERIES 160 horsepower reciprocating; LYCOMING IO-320 SERIES 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 3, 2020 - Airport: 60R, Navasota Muni, runway 17, 5,003 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 6, 2020; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 29,200 total, 18 in this make and model, 9,853 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft broken - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.16 inHg - Observed at: K11R, 16 nm away - METAR: K11R 282235Z AUTO 13006KT 10SM BKN080 24/14 A3016 RMK AO2 T02350139 ## 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 20201228018959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201228018959A), Dec 28, 2020: Piper PA-30, Navasota, TX, Substantial damage. 12/28/2020 The PIC departed 60R to the north and performed several flight conditions checks as the aircraft was new to the PIC. The PIC elected to terminate… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 11, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102481. 3.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11981727&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation - pilot/owner (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 165 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11989397&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=roc%20pilot%20508-Rel.pdf - On scene photos (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 932 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11982837&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=on%20scene%20photos-Rel.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.