# NTSB CEN21LA298: Aero Commander 500 S, N9038N, Jennings, LA, June 25, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 25, 2021, 14:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Jennings, LA - Coordinates: 30.24507, -92.66506 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2451&lon=-92.6651&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 FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 103394 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA298 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103394/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103394 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA298 ## 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. - [Use of equip/info: use of checklist](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot; cases with it: [Aero Commander 500 S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md?model=0141107), [All aircraft, 336 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md) - [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aero Commander 500 S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=0141107), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aero Commander 500 S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=0141107), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: gear extension and retract sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not used/operated (probable cause); cases with it: [Aero Commander 500 S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=0141107), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/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: [Aero Commander 500 S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=0141107), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Aero Commander 500 S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=0141107), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that as he was landing from a visual approach at his destination airport, he realized he had failed to extend the landing gear and the airplane landed with the landing gear retracted. The airplane skidded down the runway, departed the runway surface and hit a berm and fence before it came to rest. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. After the accident, the pilot stated that despite hours of operation, always use a paper or electronic written checklist. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9038N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9038N-2023-06-14), registration cancelled 2023-06-14, S/N 3050, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AERO COMMANDER 500 S - Registry model: [Aero Commander 500 S](https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-commander-500-s) (registry code 0141107) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 3050 - Year built: 1969 - Airframe hours: 8765 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-1B5 300 horsepower reciprocating; Lycoming IO-540-1B5 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ash Industries Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 9, 2020 - Departed: EET, Alabaster, AL - Destination: Same as departure - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: 3R7, Jennings Muni, runway 26, 5,002 × 75 ft, concrete - Equipment: Onboard weather, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 6, 2020; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 1,356 total, 1,356 in this make and model, 1,822 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 28 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,500 ft broken - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 82 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: K3R7 - METAR: K3R7 252055Z AUTO 14007KT 10SM VCTS BKN035 BKN049 29/28 A2998 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT W THRU N T02850280 ## 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 20210625008199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210625008199A), Jun 25, 2021: Aero Commander 500 S, Jenning, LA, Substantial damage. When landing aircraft pilot failed to put landing gear level to down position, causing aircraft to skid off runwato the right, hit a berm and launched into a… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 16, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103394. 1.9 MB in all. - NTSB form 6120 pilot operator report CEN21LA298 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12814545&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120%20Pilot%20Operator%20Report%20CEN21LA298_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array CEN21LA298 (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 528 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12816719&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20CEN21LA298-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.