- Date
- June 24, 1991, 06:45 local (11:45 UTC)
- Place
- Wheeling, IL
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N2126KPiper PA-28-201R
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 24, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19910624023759A
- Case key
- 15107
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot in command's inadequate pre-flight inspection. Factors contributing to this accident were the landing gear lever not being engaged, the use of an inadequate procedure by the pilot-in-command, and the inadvertent gear retraction during takeoff roll.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
Once the single engine, retractable gear airplane had taken off the pilot engaged the override function of landing gear's auto extension system. Prior to his arrival at the destination the pilot disengaged the override function. The pilot performed his prelanding checklist during his approach to land and noted three green lights indicating gear extension. Upon departure the pilot accelerated to a higher than normal speed, due to perceived residual wake turbulence, the airplane lifted off and the landing gear began to retract. The airplane settled onto the runway and slid off into the grass. The gear selector switch was found in the up position. The landing gear auto extension system functions on the basis of lower airspeeds and reduced power. The pilot could not recall if he had put the gear selector switch in the down position during his arrival at the accident airport.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2126K
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-201R
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28R7918019
- Engine
- Lycoming I0-360-C1C6, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Travel Express
- Registered owner
- Sealing Specialists, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · December 6, 1990
- Destination
- 2
- Airport
- PWK · Palwaukee, runway 34, 5,137 × 100 ft, asphalt
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 50
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,898 total · 300 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 80° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Observed at
- PWK, 1 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.