# NTSB CEN25LA120: Piper PA-28R-200, N93TJ, Lincoln, NE, March 12, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 12, 2025, 11:10 local (16:10 UTC) - Place: Lincoln, NE · runway - Coordinates: 40.854764, -96.750481 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8548&lon=-96.7505&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 Flight Standards - NTSB case key (mKey): 199850 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA120 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199850/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199850 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA120 ## Probable cause A failure of the flight crew to ensure that the landing gear was properly extended before landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: use of checklist](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Flight crew (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-200, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 336 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md) - [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Flight crew (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-200, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=7102811), [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-28R-200, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=7102811), [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. - [Landing: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-200, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-200, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-200, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-200, 45 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor and the pilot receiving instruction were conducting an instructional flight and entered the airport traffic pattern with two airplanes ahead of them. Shortly afterward, the instructor directed the pilot receiving instruction to lower the landing gear and partially extend the wing flaps. However, the instructor noted that the number of radio transmissions between the tower controller and the airplanes in the traffic pattern caused some distractions. He stated that a GUMPS check was completed turning onto final approach. However, during the landing flare when the engine power was reduced, he heard a horn followed shortly by a grinding noise from the propeller contacting the runway pavement. The pilot receiving instruction reported that upon entering the airport traffic pattern, he partially extended the wing flaps on downwind but did not extend the landing gear at that time. Due to the multiple radio transmissions and sequencing with other airplanes in the traffic pattern, he did not recall hearing the landing gear call from the flight instructor nor did he have time to look at the checklist. He noted that it was late by the time he noticed the landing gear was not extended. After touching down, the airplane departed the runway pavement and came to rest upright in the adjacent grass area. The left outboard wing struck a runway distance remaining sign which resulted in substantial damage to the airframe. A postaccident examination conducted by a maintenance technician responding to the accident site determined that the right main landing gear appeared down and locked; however, the left main and nose landing gears were not. The cockpit landing gear selector was in the up position. When the airplane master switch was turned on, the landing gear warning horn sounded. Upon lifting the airplane, the left main and nose landing gears extended into the over center and locked positions. When the landing gear selector was moved to the down position, the hydraulic pump started running and the gear indicator lights showed green. The flight instructor stated that, in a “moment of complacency,” he failed to verify the landing gear position. The landing gear horn did not activate until the engine power was reduced to idle upon entering the landing flare due to the need to maintain engine power during the approach. Similarly, the landing gear autoextension system did not activate until the engine power was reduced to idle during the landing flare. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N93TJ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N93TJ), registered now, S/N 28R-35026, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R-200 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200) (registry code 7102811) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28R-35026 - Year built: 1969 - Airframe hours: 5956 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-C1C 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Revv Aviation, doing business as N/A - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 30, 2024, 98 hours before - Departed: CBF, Council Bluffs, IA - Destination: CBF, Council Bluffs, IA - Airport: LNK, Lincoln, runway 17, 5,801 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 24; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 2, 2024; seat: right; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 1,076 total, 35 in this make and model, 1,019 as pilot in command, 95 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 29; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 11, 2024; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 281 total, 4 in this make and model, 201 as pilot in command, 36 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 0 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 29.77 inHg - Observed at: LNK, 0.5 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). - [Accident 20250312003169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250312003169A), Mar 12, 2025: Piper PA-28R-200, Lincoln, NE, Substantial damage. Pilot was preparing to land. Pilot failed to ensure aircraft was properly configured for landing, and aircraft landed with gear not fully deployed. Upon… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 9, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199850. 4.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 13 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18481810&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Report%20--%20CEN25LA120_redacted-Rel.pdf - Statement -- pilot receiving instruction (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 786 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18490100&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Student%20Pilot%20Statement%20--%20CEN25LA120_redacted-Rel.pdf - Statement -- maintenance technician (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 95 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18490426&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20--%20Duncan%20Aviation%20(Andy%20Bajc)-Rel.pdf - Accident photos (item 4, PDF, 5 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18491913&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photos%20--%20CEN25LA120-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.