# NTSB DFW07CA132: Piper PA-24-250, N987MD, Madison, MS, June 10, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 10, 2007, 17:51 local (22:51 UTC) - Place: Madison, MS - Coordinates: 32.436389, -90.101943 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4364&lon=-90.1019&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 25, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Jackson, Mississippi - NTSB case key (mKey): 65944 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW07CA132 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65944/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW07CA132 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to extend the landing gear prior to landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Wheels up landing, landing - gear extension - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - landing gear - not deployed (cause) - Fire, landing - roll ## Analysis The pilot failed to extend the landing gear and the airplane landed gear-up. The 7,576-hour private pilot informed local police and the NTSB that he "simply forgot" to extend the landing gear prior to landing on the 4444-foot-long, by 75-foot wide asphalt runway. The single-engine airplane landed on its belly and skidded to a stop before a fire erupted. The pilot and his passenger were able to egress the airplane and were not injured. The pilot, who reported having accumulated 6,626-hours in the same make and model, reported that he did not recall hearing the sound of the landing gear horn prior to touchdown and suspected the horn may have not worked. Examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector revealed that the airplane sustained extensive post impact fire damage, and the landing gear handle was found in the retracted position. The accident occurred at the conclusion of a 45 minute cross-country flight. ## Factual narrative The pilot failed to extend the landing gear and the airplane landed gear-up. The 7,576-hour private pilot informed local police and the NTSB that he "simply forgot" to extend the landing gear prior to landing on the 4444-foot-long, by 75-foot wide asphalt runway. The single-engine airplane landed on its belly and skidded to a stop before a fire erupted. The pilot and his passenger were able to egress the airplane and were not injured. The pilot, who reported having accumulated 6,626-hours in the same make and model, reported that he did not recall hearing the sound of the landing gear horn prior to touchdown and suspected the horn may have not worked. Examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector revealed that the airplane sustained extensive post impact fire damage, and the landing gear handle was found in the retracted position. The accident occurred at the conclusion of a 45 minute cross-country flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N987MD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N987MD-2007-07-23), registration cancelled 2007-07-23, S/N 24-1107, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-24-250 - Registry model: [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (registry code 7102404) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 21-1107 - Airframe hours: 6681.75 - Engines: Lycoming 2D36C28 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Dr. Curtis Caine - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 1, 2007, 24.91 hours before - Departed: STF, STARKVILLE, MS - Destination: MBO, MADISON, MS - Airport: MBO, Bruce Campbell Field, runway 35, 4,444 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 85; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 1, 2006; seat: left; flight hours: 7,576 total, 6,626 in this make and model, 7,576 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: MBO ## 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 20070610019389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070610019389A), Jun 10, 2007: Piper PA24250, Madison, MS, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot landed at mbo with gear still up. Fire resulted from fuel spillage caused by landing gear up. Fire consumed most of airplane. Pilot admitted not… 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.