# NTSB ERA10CA183: Piper PA-30, N7925Y, Baltimore, MD, March 17, 2010

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: March 17, 2010, 10:00 local (14:00 UTC)
- Place: Baltimore, MD
- Coordinates: 39.325553, -76.413612 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.3256&lon=-76.4136&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 22, 2010
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 75556
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10CA183
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75556/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75556
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA183

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadvertent retraction of the landing gear during a touch-and-go landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of recent experience in the make and model airplane.

## Findings

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

- [Landing gear system: gear extension and retract sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Unintentional use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md)
- [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md)
- [Experience/qualifications: recent experience w/ equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031045): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031045/cases.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 31 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031045/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Takeoff: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot stated that he accumulated 26 hours of flight time in the accident airplane about 2 years prior to the accident, but had not flown the accident airplane since. About 1 week prior to the accident, the pilot obtained his airplane multiengine rating in a different make and model than the accident airplane. The pilot stated that the purpose of the accident flight was to perform full-stop landings in order to familiarize himself with the airplane. While on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern for the first landing, he was cleared by the air traffic control tower for a "touch-and-go." After the airplane touched down, the pilot applied full power, and intended to retract the wing flaps, but inadvertently retracted the landing gear instead. The landing gear "immediately" collapsed, and the airplane slid to a stop on its underside. Both wings were substantially damaged. The pilot stated there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures, and that the accident might have been prevented if he had declined the touch-and-go landing, and had taken time to become more familiar with the locations of the landing gear and flap controls. He also stated that he had recently trained in an airplane with a "different layout," and his "sense memory for the controls was wrong."

## Factual narrative

The pilot stated that he accumulated 26 hours of flight time in the accident airplane about 2 years prior to the accident, but had not flown the accident airplane since. About 1 week prior to the accident, the pilot obtained his airplane multiengine rating in a different make and model than the accident airplane. The pilot stated that the purpose of the accident flight was to perform full-stop landings in order to familiarize himself with the airplane. While on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern for the first landing, he was cleared by the air traffic control tower for a "touch-and-go." After the airplane touched down, the pilot applied full power, and intended to retract the wing flaps, but inadvertently retracted the landing gear instead. The landing gear "immediately" collapsed, and the airplane slid to a stop on its underside. Both wings were substantially damaged. The pilot stated there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures, and that the accident might have been prevented if he had declined the touch-and-go landing, and had taken time to become more familiar with the locations of the landing gear and flap controls. He also stated that he had recently trained in an airplane with a "different layout," and his "sense memory for the controls was wrong."

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7925Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7925Y-2010-04-21), registration cancelled 2010-04-21, S/N 30-1015, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-30
- Registry model: [Piper PA-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30) (registry code 7103002) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 30-1015
- Airframe hours: 8700
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-320 SERIES 160 horsepower reciprocating; LYCOMING IO-320 SERIES 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 15, 2009
- Departed: MTN, Baltimore, MD
- Destination: MTN, Baltimore, MD
- Airport: MTN, Martin State, runway 33, 6,996 × 180 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 6, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 633 total, 26 in this make and model, 538 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 350° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 32 °F
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observed at: MTN

## 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 20100317029609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100317029609A), Mar 17, 2010: Piper PA-30, Middle River, MD, Destroyed. 3/17/10OFFICE recieved phone call for aircraft that had a gear up landing.3/18/10 talked with pilot daniel walker who was on his way back to Michigan. He is…

## Other investigations on N7925Y (1)

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.

- [NTSB CHI67F0674](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI67F0674), May 18, 1967: Piper PA-30 (N7925Y), Waukesha, WI, substantial damage

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 10, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75556. 588 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 588 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40328569&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF

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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