# NTSB CEN26LA124: Piper PA-28RT-201, N279SR, Glencoe, MN, February 23, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 23, 2026, 17:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Glencoe, MN - Coordinates: 44.756006, -94.081461 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.7560&lon=-94.0815&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 July 9, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA / FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 202496 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA124 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202496/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202496 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA124 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to extend the landing gear before landing and the flight instructor’s inadequate supervision of the flight. ## 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 · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28RT-201, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=7102818), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md) - [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28RT-201, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=7102818), [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 · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28RT-201, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=7102818), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28RT-201, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=7102818), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: attention](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510): Personnel issues › Psychological · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28RT-201, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md?model=7102818), [All aircraft, 226 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28RT-201, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md?model=7102818), [All aircraft, 200 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/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-28RT-201, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=7102818), [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-28RT-201, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=7102818), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) ## Analysis During an instructional flight, the flight instructor and pilot receiving instruction completed air work followed by simulated power-off landings. According to the flight instructor, while on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, the pilot receiving instruction “broke the sterile cockpit,” did not complete the checklist, and did not extend the landing gear. The flight instructor reported that she became distracted and did not confirm that the student extended the landing gear. During the landing, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower fuselage longerons. The flight instructor stated there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N279SR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N279SR), registered now, S/N 28R-7918130, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28RT-201 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28RT-201](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28rt-201) (registry code 7102818) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28R-7918130 - Year built: 1979 - Airframe hours: 10422.12 - Engines: LYCOMING IO 360 SER A&C 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Metro Aircraft Co - Registered owner: Metro Aircraft Co - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 2, 2026 - Departed: FCM, Eden Prairie, MN - Destination: FCM, Eden Prairie, MN - Airport: GYL, Glencoe Muni, runway 13/31, 3,300 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 22; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 8, 2025; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 688.8 total, 166 in this make and model, 584.2 as pilot in command, 210.6 in the last 90 days, 125.8 in the last 30 days, 4.7 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 20; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1; last flight review December 16, 2025; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 229.7 total, 14 in this make and model, 142 as pilot in command, 73.6 in the last 90 days, 15.8 in the last 30 days, 3.3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 100° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 18 °F, dew point 9 °F - Altimeter: 30.28 inHg - Observed at: GYL - METAR: METAR KGYL 232335Z AUTO 10007KT 10SM CLR M08/M13 A3028 RMK AO2 T10811133 ## 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 20260223001429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260223001429A), Feb 23, 2026: Piper PA-28RT-201, Glencoe, MN, Substantial damage. The flight instructor and commercial student pilot flew 35 miles west to perform maneuvers. On the fourth power off 180, the student initiated discussion… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 9, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202496. 2.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20324423&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120.1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 265 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20323419&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 894 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20323389&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photographs-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.