# NTSB DEN89LA068: Piper PA-34-200T, N3070M, Las Cruces, NM, January 24, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 23, 1989, 17:05 local (Jan 24, 1989, 00:05 UTC)
- Place: Las Cruces, NM
- Coordinates: 32.219131, -106.989463 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.2191&lon=-106.9895&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 25, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17667
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN89LA068
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17667/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN89LA068

## Probable cause

THE LOSS OF RIGHT ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASON(S), AND THE FAILURE OF THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT TO FEATHER THE RIGHT ENGINE.  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: FAILURE OF THE LEFT MAIN GEAR LOCKING MECHANISM TO ENGAGE AND THE UNPREPARED (ROUGH/UNEVEN) TERRAIN.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Gear not extended, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - emergency procedure - simulated, pilot in command(cfi)
  - landing gear,gear locking mechanism - not engaged (contributing factor)
  - go-around - initiated
- Loss of engine power, go-around (vfr)
  - 1 engine
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - uncontrolled
  - propeller feathering - not performed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)
  - wheels up landing

## Analysis

THE INSTRUCTOR PLT (CFI) HAD SIMULATED A LOSS OF PWR IN THE RGT ENG & THE STUDENT WAS MAKING AN APCH. THE CFI THEN PULLED THE CIRCUIT BREAKER (CB) FOR THE NORMAL GEAR EXTENTION SYS. THE STUDENT TRIED TO EXTEND THE GEAR WITH THE ALTN SYS, BUT THE LEFT GEAR DID NOT LOCK DOWN. THE CFI PUT THE CB BACK IN & RECYCLED THE GEAR, BUT THE LEFT GEAR STILL DID NOT SHOW DOWN & LOCKED. THE CFI THEN ORDERED A GO-AROUND. THE GO-AROUND WAS INITIATED AT ABOUT 300 FT AGL. WHEN THE THROTTLES WERE ADVANCED, THE CFI NOTED A LACK OF PWR IN THE RGT ENG & TOOK CONTROL OF THE ACFT. HE TRIED TO RESTORE FULL PWR TO THE RGT ENG, WHICH HE PERCEIVED WAS PRODUCING SOME PWR. THE PROP WASN'T FEATHERED. IN THAT CONFIGURATION, THE ACFT MAINTAINED LEVEL FLT, BUT WOULD NOT CLIMB. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT BEGAN TO DESCEND & THE CFI MADE A FORCED LANDING ON ROUGH DESERT TERRAIN. NO REASON FOR THE RPRTD LOSS OF ENG POWER WAS FOUND DRG A SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3070M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3070M-2013-02-25), registration cancelled 2013-02-25, S/N 34-7870105, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-34-200T
- Registry model: [Piper PA-34-200T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-200t) (registry code 7103406) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (registry code 17019, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 34-7870105
- Airframe hours: 2516
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-360-E 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: N. Amer. Inst. Of Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, January 8, 1989, 18 hours before
- Departed: ELP, EL PASO, TX
- Airport: LRU, Las Cruces Intl, runway 26, 6,073 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 22; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 785 total, 46 in this make and model, 652 as pilot in command, 408 in the last 90 days, 129 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 55 °F

## 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 19890123001129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890123001129A), Jan 23, 1989: Piper PA34200T, Las Cruces, NM, Substantial damage. Simulated engine out with gear circuit breaker pulled. No gear. Began go around. Unable restore power. Crash landed

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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