# NTSB CEN25LA016: Piper PA-30, N7577Y, Springfield, MO, October 10, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 10, 2024, 14:24 local (19:24 UTC) - Place: Springfield, MO - Coordinates: 37.245661, -93.388627 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2457&lon=-93.3886&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): 195331 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA016 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/195331/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195331 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA016 ## Probable cause The flight instructor’s inability to confirm landing gear position before landing due to the sun glare which resulted in gear up landing. Contributing to the accident was an undetected tripped circuit breaker for the landing gear and the inoperative gear warning horn. ## 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-30, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: gear position and warning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023260): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Inoperative (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023260/cases.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023260/cases.md) - [Light condition: bright light](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036010): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036010/cases.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 28 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036010/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Flight crew (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/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-30, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was receiving flight instruction and was practicing an instrument approach while utilizing a view-limiting device. The pilot and flight instructor stated that while on final approach, the landing gear lever was lowered. The pilot could not see if the landing gear was extended but he did verify that the green landing gear indicating light was illuminated; then asked the flight instructor to verify that the landing gear was extended. The flight instructor stated that due to the single landing gear indicating light and the brightness of the conditions outside, he could not tell if the landing gear was extended or not. He assumed the landing gear was down because of the increased drag on the airplane. Upon landing, the airplane scraped along the runway and smoke came into the cockpit. The airplane came to rest upright on the runway, and the pilot and flight instructor exited through the door without further incident. The flight instructor said that after the accident the landing gear handle was in the down position and the landing gear circuit breaker was popped. Postaccident examination revealed substantial damage to the lower fuselage. The landing gear circuit breaker was reset, and the landing gear was raised and lowered without issue. The circuit breaker did not trip again during the examination. The landing gear up warning horn did not sound when tested by reducing the manifold pressure below 12 inches. Instead, a landing gear indicating light flashed. The airplane owner said that the landing gear warning horn was not working when he purchased the airplane, and the light was the only indicator to signal that the landing gear was not down. Maintenance records indicated that an annual inspection was complete in September 2024; the landing gear was tested and found to be operating properly during the inspection. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7577Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7577Y), registered now, S/N 30-643, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-30 - Registry model: [Piper PA-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30) (registry code 7103002) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 30-643 - Year built: 1964 - Airframe hours: 6751 - Engines: Lycoming IO320B 160 horsepower reciprocating; Lycoming IO320B 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Leaseair LLC - Registered owner: Leaseair LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 12, 2024, 31 hours before - Departed: HFJ, Monet, MO - Destination: SGF, Springfield, MO - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: SGF, Springfield-Branson International, runway 14, 8,000 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Stall warning system, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 24; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 13, 2024; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,600 total, 36 in this make and model, 1,500 as pilot in command, 154 in the last 90 days, 71 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 27; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 9, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 315 total, 6 in this make and model, 162 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: KSGF - METAR: KSGF 101852Z 12005KT 10SM CLR 25/07 A3014 RMK AO2 SLP199 ## 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 20241010021359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241010021359A), Oct 10, 2024: Piper PA30, Springfield, MO, Substantial damage. During an ILS landing on runway 14. Landing gear was in the up and locked position. On touchdown, the aircraft slid on the fuselage and stayed on the runway… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 13, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195331. 44.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 42.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18345556&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=complete6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 490 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18347362&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Template-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18334447&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20-%20Farid-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, FAA (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18334820&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR-Tom%20Davis-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18346435&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=maintenance_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Excerpt from operator handbook (item 6, PDF, 2 pages, 214 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18352216&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pages%20from%20Piper%20PA-30%20Owners%20Handbook-rev_1963%20(002)-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.