# NTSB CEN24LA247: American Air Racing Lancair IVP, N451M, Midland, TX, June 29, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 29, 2024, 16:45 local (21:45 UTC) - Place: Midland, TX - Coordinates: 31, -102 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.0000&lon=-102.0000&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: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 194602 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24LA247 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194602/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194602 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA247 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to extend and verify landing gear extension which resulted in a wheels-up landing. Contributing was the increased workload due to several airplane issues that occurred during the descent in severe turbulence. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: landing gear selector](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023234): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not used/operated (probable cause); cases with it: [American Air Racing LANCAIR IVP, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023234/cases.md?model=05618RT), [All aircraft, 54 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023234/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: [American Air Racing LANCAIR IVP, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=05618RT), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Turbulence: clear air turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [American Air Racing LANCAIR IVP, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015/cases.md?model=05618RT), [All aircraft, 78 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring equip/instruments](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [American Air Racing LANCAIR IVP, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525/cases.md?model=05618RT), [All aircraft, 142 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525/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: [American Air Racing LANCAIR IVP, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=05618RT), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was hired to fly the airplane to another airport following a pre-purchase inspection. The preceding pilot informed the pilot of several issues with the airplane including the propeller control and the cabin door. The pilot said he familiarized himself with the airplane and after about three hours of inspections and ground tests determined the airplane was in a safe condition and proceeded with the flight. He reported that during the descent to the destination airport, the turbulence became severe, noting that his head hit the cabin roof twice even though the lap seat belt was secured. The cockpit was loud and as he advanced the throttle after lowering the flaps 10 degrees, the cabin noise increased, and the propeller indications became erratic. Several engine instruments were giving erratic readings as well and the pilot was additionally concerned about the cabin door latches becoming loose in the turbulence. The airplane was operating properly and after a minute the propeller indications stabilized. All these events added to his workload. The pilot said that while approaching to land and after lowering the flaps, he reached for the landing gear handle, noting that these checks were performed in severe turbulence. He visually confirmed that the flaps were fully extended by looking out the side window and believed that he looked at the gear indicator lights but didn’t clearly remember this. He also did not remember shading the landing gear position indicator with his hand as he had done previously. During the landing, the airplane settled onto its belly and the airplane slid to a stop. He noted that after the accident, the landing gear handle and flap handle were both in the mid-position. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. When the airplane was being recovered from the runway, aircraft power was turned on and the landing gear selector placed in the fully down position. The landing gear extended and locked into the fully extended position with no anomalies noted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N451M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N451M), registered now, S/N LIV-367, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AMERICAN AIR RACING INC LANCAIR IVP - Registry model: [American Air Racing LANCAIR IVP](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-air-racing-lancair-ivp) (registry code 05618RT) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-550 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-550-series) (registry code 17043, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: LIV-367 - Year built: 2005 - Engines: Continental TSIO-550 350 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Ferry, Part 91 - Operator: Gemini Commercial Properties LLC - Registered owner: Gemini Commercial Properties LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: SLR, Sulphur Springs, TX - Destination: Same as departure - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: MAF, Midland Intl Air And Space Port, runway 16R/34L, 9,501 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 27, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 6,359 total, 900 in this make and model, 5,510 as pilot in command, 132 in the last 90 days, 43 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 17 knots, gusting 32 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 97 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.99 inHg - Observed at: KMAF, 58 nm away - METAR: METAR KMAF 292153Z 16017G23KT 10SM CLR 36/16 A2999 RMK AO2 PK WND 16029/2139 SLP099 T03560161= ## 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 20240629008179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240629008179A), Jun 29, 2024: American Air Racing Inc LANCAIR IVP, Midland, TX, Substantial damage. On June 29, 2024, at 1645 CDT, a Lancair iv, registered to a private individual, landed gear up at Midland international air and space port (maf) in Midland,… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 7, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194602. 19.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17529019&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120--1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Video of checking gear extension (item 2, MOV, 16.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17529393&FileExtension=MOV&FileName=IMG_3027-Rel.MOV - Accident photographs (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17529855&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=photos-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.