# NTSB CEN25LA220: Piper PA-24-260, N8817P, Ashland, WI, June 24, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 24, 2025, 11:21 local (16:21 UTC) - Place: Ashland, WI - Coordinates: 46.548528, -90.918972 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.5485&lon=-90.9190&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 September 26, 2025 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA MKE FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 200391 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA220 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200391/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200391 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA220 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to extend the landing gear before landing 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-24-260, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=7102406), [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-24-260, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=7102406), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/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-24-260, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=7102406), [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-24-260, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=7102406), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the flight was a local sightseeing flight with a passenger. They departed the pilot’s home base airport and flew at a lower level than normal for sightseeing purposes. They planned to land at another airport for lunch and due to the low level of the flight the pilot’s normal routine was disrupted and he did not perform his normal pre-landing checks. He stated that the landing was normal until the propeller blades struck the runway. After the airplane slid to a stop, he realized that he had not placed the landing gear selector in the “down” position. He stated that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower fuselage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8817P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8817P), registered now, S/N 24-4273, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24-260 - Registry model: [Piper PA-24-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-260) (registry code 7102406) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-4273 - Year built: 1965 - Engines: Lycoming TIO-540 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: ARV, Woodruff, WI - Destination: ASX, Ashland, WI - Airport: ASX, John F Kennedy Meml, runway 13/31, 3,498 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 76; injuries: none; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 6,000 total, 2,500 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.23 inHg - Observed at: KASX - METAR: KASX 241553Z AUTO 02008KT 10SM CLR 20/11 A3023 RMK AO2 SLP238 T02000111 ## 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 20250624007229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250624007229A), Jun 24, 2025: Piper PA-24-260, Ashland, WI, Substantial damage. Pilot landed on runway 31 at kasx without extending landing gear, damaging the aircraft propeller and fuselage. After the aircraft was raised and the gear was… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 26, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200391. 392 KB in all. - Accident photographs (item 1, PDF, 2 pages, 1 photo, 327 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19248066&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation with pilot (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 65 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19247675&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20ROC-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.