# NTSB CEN23LA115: Piper PA-34-200T, N7681F, Cahokia, IL, February 15, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: February 15, 2023, 15:20 local (21:20 UTC)
- Place: Cahokia, IL
- Coordinates: 38.570361, -90.155083 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5704&lon=-90.1551&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: 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): 106759
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA115
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106759/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106759
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA115

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to extent 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)

## 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: [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 pilot reported that he was performing touch and go landings. On the fourth traffic pattern, the controller requested that he turn inside of the airplane that was on final approach. The pilot stated that he delayed extending the landing gear until he turned the airplane onto the final approach leg. After he reduced the airspeed, he selected flaps and extended the landing gear. During the landing, the pilot “heard the sound of metal” and realized that the landing gear was not extended. The pilot reported that when he moved the landing gear handle, he did not see the unsafe landing gear warning light, nor was there a landing gear warning horn. The airplane sustained damage to the lower fuselage. The mechanic that recovered the airplane after the accident reported that the landing gear extended normally, and the landing gear warning horn was audible. Further, the pilot reported to the responding inspector that he had just forgot to extend the landing gear.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7681F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7681F), registered now, S/N 34-7770066, 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: 34-7770066
- Year built: 1976
- Airframe hours: 4982
- Engines: Teledyne TSIO360E2B 200 hp reciprocating; Teledyne LTSIO360E2B 200 hp reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 14, 2022
- Departed: KCPS, Cahokia, IL
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: KCPS, St Louis Downtown Parks, runway 30L / 12R, 7,002 × 150 ft, concrete
- Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Onboard weather, Stall warning system, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B, Angle of attack indicator, Auto-pilot

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 5, 2021; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,854 total, 1,059 in this make and model, 1,711 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 330° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 29.91 inHg
- Observed at: KCPS
- METAR: KCPS 152053Z 33003KT 10SM CLR 16/04 A2991 RMK AO2 SLP126 T01560039 57002

## 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 20230215002659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230215002659A), Feb 15, 2023: Piper PA-34-200T, Cahokia, IL, Substantial damage. On 02/15/2023 the pilot was operating his aircraft, [privacy data omitted], a PA-34 in the traffic pattern at the St. Louis Downtown Airport (kcps). The pilot…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 8, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106759. 3.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 733 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15188849&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15235964&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf
- FAA inspector's statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 87 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15249815&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=INSPECTOR%20STATEMENT%20LOWRANCE%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%202-Rel.pdf
- Record of conversation - FAA (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 118 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15300392&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA-Rel.pdf
- Record of conversation - head mechanic (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 89 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15362280&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Head%20Mechanic-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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