# NTSB CEN21LA366: Piper PA-34-200T, N8011F, Navasota, TX, August 8, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: August 8, 2021, 15:40 local (20:40 UTC)
- Place: Navasota, TX
- Coordinates: 30.373155, -96.113308
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.3732&lon=-96.1133&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: 2 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): 103665
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA366
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103665/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103665
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA366

## 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: gear extension and retract sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not used/operated (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200T, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=7103406), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md)
- [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200T, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=7103406), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md)
- [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot; cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200T, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=7103406), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md)
- [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot; cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md?model=7103406), [All aircraft, 200 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/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: [Piper PA-34-200T, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=7103406), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/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-34-200T, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=7103406), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The flight instructor reported that while in the traffic pattern for landing, he and the student became distracted while trying to avoid another aircraft and they failed to extend the landing gear before landing. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The flight instructor stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8011F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8011F), registered now, S/N 34-7770080, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-34-200T
- Registry model: [Piper PA-34-200T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-200t) (registry code 7103406) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (registry code 17019, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 34-7770080
- Year built: 1976
- Engines: Continental TSIO-360 reciprocating; Continental TSIO-360 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: 60R, Navasota Muni, runway 17/35, 5,003 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: right
- Student pilot; age 20; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observed at: KCLL, 18 nm away
- METAR: KCLL 081953Z 19009KT 10SM FEW055 34/22 A2996 RMK AO2 SLP140

## 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 20210808019359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210808019359A), Aug 8, 2021: Piper PA-34-200T, Navasota, TX, Minor damage. Instructional flight to prepare student for ATP MEL check ride. PIC stated crew was distracted by a gyrocopter in the pattern and extended their downwind…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 16, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103665. 1.7 MB in all.

- Pilot's statement (item 1, PDF, 2 pages, 532 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12695219&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N8011F%20Pilot%20statements08112021_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Record of conversation - PIC (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 205 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12694309&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=RoC_CFI-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12694984&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.

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