# NTSB DFW08CA219: Piper PA46-500TP, N618MA, St. Louis, MO, August 20, 2008

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: August 20, 2008, 14:45 local (19:45 UTC)
- Place: St. Louis, MO
- Coordinates: 38.661945, -90.651947 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6619&lon=-90.6519&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 22, 2009
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 68845
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW08CA219
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68845/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW08CA219

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to ensure that the landing gear was placed in the down position prior to landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA46-500TP, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=7104622), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md)
- [Landing gear system: landing gear selector](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023234): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not used/operated (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA46-500TP, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023234/cases.md?model=7104622), [All aircraft, 54 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023234/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA46-500TP, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=7104622), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md)

## Analysis

While landing at the destination airport, the pilot failed to lower the landing gear. The airplane settled on the runway centerline gear up, departed the right side of the runway, and came to rest in the grass. The pilot was able to egress the airplane without assistance. Damage was discovered to the airplane's left wing leading edge, belly, and fuselage.

## Factual narrative

While landing at the destination airport, the pilot failed to lower the landing gear. The airplane settled on the runway centerline gear up, departed the right side of the runway, and came to rest in the grass. The pilot was able to egress the airplane without assistance. Damage was discovered to the airplane's left wing leading edge, belly, and fuselage.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N618MA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N618MA), registered now, S/N 4697218, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA46-500TP
- Registry model: [Piper PA46-500TP](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa46-500tp) (registry code 7104622) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52032, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 4697218
- Airframe hours: 531
- Engines: P&W PT6A SER 750 horsepower
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Differential Leasing LLC
- Registered owner: Differential Leasing LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 8, 2008, 212 hours before
- Departed: 16G, TIFFIN, OH
- Destination: SUS, St. Louis, MO
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: SUS, Spirit of St Louis Airport, runway 26L, 7,485 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 1,000 total, 550 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observed at: SUS

## 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 20080820844199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080820844199A), Aug 20, 2008: Piper PA46500TP, St Louis, MO, Substantial damage. (-23) Mishap pilot forgot to lower landing gear prior to landing on runway 26L at ksus. Pilot freely admitted his error. Aircraft touched down in the touch…

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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