# NTSB CHI05CA258: Piper PA-44-180, N291ND, Fertile, MN, September 7, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 7, 2005, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Fertile, MN - Coordinates: 47.551944, -96.291946 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.5519&lon=-96.2919&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - Minneapolis FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 62600 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI05CA258 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62600/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI05CA258 ## Probable cause The flightcrew's failure to extend the landing gear prior to touchdown, and the flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the flight. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Wheels up landing, landing - flare/touchdown - gear extension - not performed, flightcrew (cause) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) ## Analysis The airplane landed with the landing gear retracted during an instructional flight. The flight instructor reported that they were working on single-engine approaches and landings when the accident occurred. The flight instructor stated that a "midfield check was done and said, but was not verified." The flight instructor reported that "since we had heard the gear warning horn for so long during the airwork, I no longer noticed anymore." The flight instructor stated that they "did not do our final landing check" and that the airplane landed with "the gear in the up position." ## Factual narrative On September 7, 2005, at 1530 central daylight time, a Piper PA-44-180 (Seminole), N291ND, owned and operated by the University of North Dakota, was substantially damaged during a wheels-up landing on runway 32 (3,002 feet by 60 feet, asphalt) at the Fertile Municipal Airport (D14), Fertile, Minnesota. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot and flight instructor were not injured. The instructional flight was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 without a flight plan. The flight departed Grand Forks International Airport (GFK), Grand Forks, North Dakota, around 1400 and was operating in the traffic pattern at D14 when the accident occurred. The flight instructor reported that they were working on single-engine approaches and landings when the accident occurred. The flight instructor stated that a "midfield check was done and said, but was not verified." The flight instructor reported that "since we had heard the gear warning horn for so long during the airwork, I no longer noticed anymore." The flight instructor stated that they "did not do our final landing check" and that the airplane landed with "the gear in the up position." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N291ND](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N291ND-2011-03-04), registration cancelled 2011-03-04, S/N 4496022, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-44-180 - Registry model: [Piper PA-44-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-44-180) (registry code 7104402) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 446022 - Airframe hours: 4860.6 - Engines: Lycoming LO-360-A1H6 180 horsepower reciprocating; Lycoming O-360-A1H6 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: University of North Dakota - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, August 1, 2005, 32.3 hours before - Departed: GFK, Grand Forks, ND - Destination: D14, Fertile, MN - Airport: D14, Fertile Municipal Airport, runway 32, 3,002 × 60 ft, asphalt ## 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; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 1, 2003; seat: right; flight hours: 772 total, 57 in this make and model, 551 as pilot in command, 154 in the last 90 days, 53 in the last 30 days - Pilot; age 20; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 1, 2004; seat: right; flight hours: 172 total, 2 in this make and model, 23 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.23 inHg - Observed at: FSE, 22 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 20050907024109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050907024109A), Sep 7, 2005: Piper PA44180, Fertile, MN, Substantial damage. (-23) Instructional flight in multiengine land aircraft was being given. This flight was the student's second hour in an airplane multiengine land aircraft.… 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.