# NTSB CEN24LA026: Piper PA-44-180, N5331N, Savoy, IL, October 24, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 24, 2023, 16:15 local (21:15 UTC) - Place: Savoy, IL - Coordinates: 40.038, -88.2765 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0380&lon=-88.2765&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): 193319 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24LA026 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193319/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193319 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA026 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to extend the landing gear before landing and the flight instructor’s inadequate supervision to ensure that the landing gear was extended. ## 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 · 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) - [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: gear extension and retract sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not used/operated (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-44-180, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=7104402), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of checklist](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot; cases with it: [Piper PA-44-180, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md?model=7104402), [All aircraft, 336 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: task monitoring/vigilance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-44-180, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md?model=7104402), [All aircraft, 330 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/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-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 During a multi-engine instructional flight, the flight instructor simulated an engine failure at the final approach fix. The pilot receiving instruction focused on maintaining control of the airplane and neither the pilot nor the flight instructor verified that the landing gear was extended. During the landing, they realized that the landing gear was still retracted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower fuselage. A postaccident examination of the landing gear system by a mechanic revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The instructor stated that there was nothing mechanically wrong with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5331N](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5331N), registered now, S/N 4496106, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-44-180 - Registry model: [Piper PA-44-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-44-180) (registry code 7104402) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (registry code 41575, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 4496106 - Year built: 2001 - Airframe hours: 3959.3 - Engines: Lycoming LO-360-A1H6 180 horsepower reciprocating; Lycoming O-360-A1H6 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: University of Illinois - Registered owner: University of Illinois - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 2, 2023 - Destination: Same as departure - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: CMI, Willard Airport, runway 22, 6,502 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 48; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 29, 2023; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 5,416 total, 170 in this make and model, 2,607 as pilot in command, 116 in the last 90 days, 81 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 24; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 27, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 224 total, 9 in this make and model, 169 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 15 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 11,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: KCMI - METAR: KCMI 242053Z 18015KT 10SM OVC110 23/12 A3010 ## 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 20231024015259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231024015259A), Oct 24, 2023: Piper PA-44-180, Savoy, IL, Substantial damage. The accident occurred during an instructional flight while practicing landing. At the final approach fix, the flight instructor simulated an engine failure.… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 21, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193319. 3.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1-pilot (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16746401&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1-flight instructor (item 2, PDF, 9 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16746108&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Form%206120_3_JFitzpatrick_10.24.2023_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 617 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16735760&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=photo%20array-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� email, FAA (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 58 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16746600&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR-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.