- Date
- July 17, 2008, 10:10 local (15:10 UTC)
- Place
- Rockport, TX
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N44HMPiper PA-30
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Landing gear not configured
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 12, 2009
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA San Antonio FSDO
- FAA report
- 20080717844019A
- Case key
- 68496
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's failure to complete all cockpit checklist items prior to takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to properly configure the landing gear switch.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot was on the take off roll at approximately 90 knots when he took his hands off the throttles, and began applying back pressure for lift off. Almost immediately the aircraft began to sink followed by the sounds of the props striking the runway. All three landing gear were partially retracted as the airplane slid along the runway surface and came to a stop with resulting substantial damage to the belly structure. The pilot and both passengers were not injured. After the accident the pilot discovered that he had inadvertently left the landing gear switch in the "up" position while completing other items in the cockpit checklist. During the recovery operations the airplane was then jacked and the gear was lowered normally.
Factual narrative
The pilot was on the takeoff roll at approximately 90 knots when he took his hands off the throttles and began applying back pressure for liftoff. Almost immediately the aircraft began to sink, followed by the sounds of the props striking the runway. All three landing gear were partially retracted as the airplane slid along the runway surface and came to a stop with resulting substantial damage to the belly structure. The pilot and both passengers were not injured. After the accident, the pilot discovered that he had inadvertently left the landing gear switch in the "up" position while completing other items in the cockpit checklist. During the recovery operations the airplane was then jacked and the gear was lowered normally.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N44HM
- Reported as
- Piper PA-30
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 30-1960
- Airframe hours
- 4,736
- Engines
- Lycoming IO-320 series, 160 horsepower, reciprocatingLycoming IO-320 series, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · September 16, 2007
- Departed
- KRKP · Rockport, TX
- Destination
- KRKP · Rockport, TX
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- KRKP · Aransas County Airport, runway 36, 4,498 × 150 ft, asphalt
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 84
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- February 6, 2007
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 17,500 total · 669 in this make and model · 15,500 as pilot in command · 59 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 130° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 90 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.04 inHg
- Observed at
- KRKP
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.