# NTSB CEN26LA188: Piper PA-34-220T, N6915Z, Corpus Christi, TX, May 13, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: May 13, 2026, 14:42 local (19:42 UTC)
- Place: Corpus Christi, TX
- Coordinates: 27.774064, -97.496256
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.7741&lon=-97.4963&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: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 30, 2026
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA San Antonio FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 203005
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA188
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203005/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA188

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to extend the main landing gear prior to landing, which resulted in a gear up landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s distraction during the approach.

## 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-34-220T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=7103420), [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 · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-220T, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=7103420), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/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-34-220T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=7103420), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md)
- [Attention/monitoring: attention](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-220T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md?model=7103420), [All aircraft, 226 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-220T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=7103420), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-220T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=7103420), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md)
- [Post-impact: Evacuation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/460); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-220T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/460/sequence.md?model=7103420), [All aircraft, 103 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/460/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot was instructed to navigate to the runway by approach control. During the approach, the pilot was instructed to change runways. The pilot reported that he forgot to extend the main landing gear because he was distracted due to the request to transition to a different runway. The airplane landed in a gear-up configuration on the runway and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage keel beams. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot further reported that the accident sequence involved “distracting circumstances.”

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6915Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6915Z), registered now, S/N 34-8533003, built 1985 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-34-220T
- Registry model: [Piper PA-34-220T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-220t) (registry code 7103420) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (registry code 17019, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 34-8533003
- Year built: 1985
- Airframe hours: 3916
- Engines: Continental Motors TSIO360KB 220 horsepower reciprocating; Continental Motors TSIO360KB 220 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 3, 2025, 16 hours before
- Departed: RFG, Refugio, TX
- Destination: CRP, Corpus Christi, TX
- Airport: CRP, Corpus Christi International Airport, runway 18, 6,080 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Stall warning system, ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 16, 2025; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 20,179 total, 18 in this make and model, 5,885 as pilot in command, 148 in the last 90 days, 28 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 60° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observed at: KCRP, 1 nm away
- METAR: KCRP 131951Z 06007KT 10SM FEW037 FEW050 31/18 A3005 RMK AO2 SLP173 T03060178


## Other investigations on N6915Z (1)

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.

- [NTSB IAD99LA064](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD99LA064), Sep 2, 1999: Piper PA-34-220T (N6915Z), Nantucket, MA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's inadequate recovery from a bounced landing which resulted in a hard landing and the fracture and collapse of the right main landing gear.

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.

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