# NTSB DEN08LA012: Piper PA-31-350, N313RA, Trinidad, CO, October 9, 2007

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 9, 2007, 08:13 local (14:13 UTC)
- Place: Trinidad, CO
- Coordinates: 37.259445, -104.340553
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2594&lon=-104.3406&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 20, 2007
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 66913
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN08LA012
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66913/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN08LA012

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to extend the landing gear.

## 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, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

The pilot failed to extend the landing gear, resulting in substantial damage to the bottom of the fuselage.  The operator noted, "[The] pilot freely admits to forgetting to extend gear." the report said.  Photographs of the airplane reveal the fuselage skin to be gone, exposing several compromised bulkheads.

## Factual narrative

On October 9, 2007, at 0813 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-31-350, N313RA, operated by Key Lime Air, Inc., (KY7A) and piloted by a commercial pilot, was substantially damaged when it landed wheels up at Perry Stokes Airport (TAD), Trinidad, Colorado.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.  The non-scheduled domestic cargo flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 135, and an instrument flight rulers (IFR) flight plan had been filed.  The pilot, the sole occupant aboard, was not injured.  The cross-country flight originated at Lamar Municipal Airport (LAA), Lamar, Colorado, approximately 0740, and was en route to TAD.

According to the operator's accident report, the pilot failed to extend the landing gear, resulting in substantial damage to the bottom of the fuselage.  "[The] pilot freely admits to forgetting to extend gear," the report said.  Photographs of the airplane reveal the fuselage skin to be gone, exposing several compromised bulkheads.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N313RA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N313RA-2025-04-28), registration cancelled 2025-04-28, S/N 31-8052069 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Piper PA-31-350
- Registry model: [Piper PA-31-350](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-350) (registry code 7103110) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 31-8052069
- Airframe hours: 9885
- Engines: Textron Lycoming TIO-540-J2BD 350 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Key Lime Air, Inc.
- Registered owner: EDB, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 1, 2007, 69 hours before
- Departed: LAA, Lamar, CO
- Destination: TAD, Trinidad, CO
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: TAD, Perry Stokes Field, runway 21, 5,498 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 26; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 1, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 1,573 total, 367 in this make and model, 1,500 as pilot in command, 181 in the last 90 days, 56 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 18 °F
- Altimeter: 30.26 inHg
- Observed at: TAD

## 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 20071009022279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20071009022279A), Oct 9, 2007: Piper PA31350, Trinidad, CO, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot statement of circumstances of accident say: he failed to select landing gear down on a long final approach to Trinidad, CO. Aircraft landed 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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