# NTSB CEN23LA382: Piper PA-44-180, N7122E, Bonham, TX, August 23, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 23, 2023, 15:40 local (20:40 UTC) - Place: Bonham, TX - Coordinates: 33.613092, -96.179325 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6131&lon=-96.1793&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: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration, North Texas FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 192944 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA382 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192944/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192944 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA382 ## Probable cause The failure of the pilot receiving instruction and flight instructor to follow the landing checklist and extend the landing gear 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 · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-44-180, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=7104402), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md) - [Landing gear system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023200): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not used/operated (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-44-180, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023200/cases.md?model=7104402), [All aircraft, 113 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023200/cases.md) - [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-44-180, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=7104402), [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-flare/touchdown: Simulated/training event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600); cases with it: [Piper PA-44-180, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md?model=7104402), [All aircraft, 173 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-44-180, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=7104402), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor stated that during a simulated one engine inoperative approach and landing, the pilot receiving instruction chose to leave the landing gear retracted until the landing was assured. The pilot receiving instruction turned the airplane onto a short base leg before final, increased the mixture and propeller control settings, and increased the airplane bank angle so as not to overshoot the final approach course. The flight instructor saw that the airplane airspeed was decreasing and told the pilot receiving instruction that they were low. The pilot receiving instruction increased airplane pitch, which resulted in a decrease in airspeed, a loss of altitude, and a rolling motion. The flight instructor leveled the wings and reduced pitch to regain airplane control and lift. When the airplane was over the runway threshold, the flight instructor did not remember that the landing gear was still retracted and he did not complete the final landing checklist, which resulted in a landing with the landing gear retracted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the underside fuselage longerons. There was no mechanical malfunction/failure of the airplane or system that would have precluded normal operations. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7122E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7122E), registered now, S/N 4496447, built 2018 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER AIRCRAFT INC PA-44-180 - Registry model: [Piper PA-44-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-44-180) (registry code 7104406) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360-A1H6](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-a1h6) (registry code 42399, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 4496447 - Year built: 2018 - Airframe hours: 1870.9 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1H6 180 horsepower reciprocating; LYCOMING O-360-A1H6 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: American Flyers - Registered owner: Christiansen Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 20, 2023 - Departed: ADS, Addison, TX - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: F00, Jones Field Airport, runway 17, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Angle of attack indicator, Stall warning system, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 39; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 30, 2022; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,546.7 total, 182 in this make and model, 1,475.5 as pilot in command, 150.3 in the last 90 days, 47.1 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 37; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 18, 2023; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 214.4 total, 14 in this make and model, 139.5 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 106 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: DUA, 23 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). - [Incident 20230823021339I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230823021339I), Aug 23, 2023: Piper Aircraft Inc PA-44-180, Bonham, TX, Minor damage. During a dual training flight, teaching signle engine operations at johns field (foo) RNAV17. Reached foo and performed a simullated single engine landing… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 13, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192944. 2.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16374988&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Master_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 198 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16376082&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Template-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.