# NTSB CEN26LA025: Piper PA-24-250, N5865P, Eau Claire, WI, October 19, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 19, 2025, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Eau Claire, WI - Coordinates: 44.870182, -91.477274 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.8702&lon=-91.4773&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 February 12, 2026 - 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): 201892 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA025 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/201892/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201892 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA025 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to ensure that the landing gear was properly extended before landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s unfamiliarity with the landing gear warning horn and failure to verify the gear was extended with the cockpit position indicators. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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-24-250, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring equip/instruments](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525/cases.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 142 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525/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-24-250, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=7102404), [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-flare/touchdown: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that while on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, he selected the landing gear selector down but did not verify the landing gear was extended using the landing gear position indicator light. The pilot heard an unknown faint audible alarm as he approached the runway, which he later discovered to be the airplane’s landing gear warning horn. The pilot continued to the runway, and subsequently the airplane landed on its belly and slid off the side of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower fuselage. According to a mechanic who aided in the recovery of the airplane, the landing gear was found partially extended. He stated that during recovery operations, the landing gear extended freely by extending the emergency gear handle and moving the hand lever. The airplane was moved to a hangar and placed on jacks. The landing gear circuit breaker was found tripped. The landing gear linkage was re-connected from the emergency extension, and the circuit breaker was reset. The landing gear was cycled multiple times with no anomalies found. The landing gear warning horn and position indicator lights functioned normally. The pilot stated that if he had checked the landing gear position indicator before landing, he would have manually extended the landing gear. Additionally, he had never heard the landing gear warning horn before the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5865P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5865P), registered now, S/N 24-948, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24-250 - Registry model: [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (registry code 7102404) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-948 - Year built: 1959 - Airframe hours: 3087 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-A1-AA5 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ll Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 18, 2025 - Departed: GPH, Mosby, MO - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: EAU, Chippewa Valley Rgnl, runway 04/22, 8,101 × 150 ft, concrete - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Satellite tracking device, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 24, 2025; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 162 total, 40 in this make and model, 23 as pilot in command, 36 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 29.80 inHg - Observed at: KEAU - METAR: KEAU 192156Z 30011KT 10SM FEW060 13/M01 A2980 RMK AO2 SLP093 T01281011,M ## 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 20251019017889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20251019017889A), Oct 19, 2025: Piper PA-24-250, Eau Claire, WI, Substantial damage. Tower instructed him to enter a left downwind for runway 22 even though the winds were favoring runway 32. The PIC noted that the winds were reported at 18-35… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 12, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201892. 2.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19723159&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN26LA025_6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 724 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19723378&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photographs%20N5865P-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, mechanic (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 95 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19723169&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20Mechanic_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� FAA (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 95 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19725277&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20FAA_Redacted-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.