# NTSB CEN24LA288: Piper PA-28R-180, N980BL, Ft. Atkinson, WI, July 27, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 27, 2024, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Ft. Atkinson, WI - Coordinates: 42.963203, -88.817628 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.9632&lon=-88.8176&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: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Milwaukee FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 194798 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24LA288 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194798/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194798 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA288 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to extend the landing gear before landing due to distractions and his failure to conduct the Before Landing checklist. ## 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-28R-180, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=7102809), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/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-28R-180, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=7102809), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of checklist](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-180, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md?model=7102809), [All aircraft, 336 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: attention](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-180, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md?model=7102809), [All aircraft, 226 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/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-28R-180, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=7102809), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-180, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=7102809), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-180, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=7102809), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-180, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7102809), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported it was his first time landing at the airport and he was having difficulty locating it. Additionally, skydiving operations were in progress at the airport. Due to the distractions, he did not complete the normal downwind checklist and forgot to lower the landing gear. On final approach, another pilot announced he was on final for the opposite end of the accident pilot’s intended runway. The other pilot made a short approach and cleared the runway by the time the accident pilot was on a ½ mile final. The accident pilot did not visually confirm the status of the landing gear cockpit lights before landing. Upon hearing the warning horn for the landing gear, the pilot immediately lowered the landing gear and tried to remain airborne until the landing gear fully locked down. The airplane touched down before the left and nose landing gear fully locked down. The airplane departed the runway to the left and came to rest upright in the grass. During the runway excursion, the left wing impacted a runway light which resulted in substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or the engine that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot further reported that he should have performed a go around when the other pilot was landing and that the accident was a combination of fatigue, distractions, and coming into a strange airport for the first time. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N980BL](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N980BL), registered now, S/N 28R-30497 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R-180 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-180) (registry code 7102809) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28R-30497 - Year built: 1969 - Airframe hours: 3000 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360 181 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2024 - Departed: OSH, Oshkosh, WI - Destination: 61C, Ft. Atkinson, WI - Airport: 61C, Fort Atkinson Muni, runway 21, 3,800 × 60 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 19, 2023; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 2,002 total, 310 in this make and model, 2,002 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: KRYV, 13 nm away - METAR: KRYV 271615Z AUTO 20007KT 10SM CLR 25/17 A3012 RMK AO2 T02500166 ## 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 20240727011419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240727011419A), Jul 27, 2024: Piper PA-28R-180, Fort Atkinson, WI, Substantial damage. On 27 July 2024 at 1113 local time, accident aircraft made a landing with gear not fully locked down at Fort Atkinson airport (61C). The left and nose wheels… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 22, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194798. 3.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17647942&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN24LA288%20-%206120_redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 5 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17812740&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN24LA288%20-%20Photo%20Summary-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.