# NTSB ERA22LA259: Piper PA-32R-301, N8429X, Spencer, VA, June 4, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 4, 2022, 12:56 local (16:56 UTC) - Place: Spencer, VA - Coordinates: 36.63118, -80.018441 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6312&lon=-80.0184&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 105193 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA259 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105193/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105193 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA259 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to extend the landing gear before landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to use the landing checklist. ## 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 PA-32R-301, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=7103218), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of checklist](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-301, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md?model=7103218), [All aircraft, 336 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: gear extension and retract sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not used/operated (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-301, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=7103218), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-301, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=7103218), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) - [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-301, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=7103218), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated he was flying to another airport for lunch, and as he approached the airport, he was looking around for other airplanes in the traffic pattern and “just forgot” to extend the landing gear. He further stated he did not use the landing checklist. He subsequently landed the airplane with the landing gear retracted, which resulted in substantial damage to the lower fuselage longerons. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8429X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8429X), registered now, S/N 32R-8113105, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32R-301 - Registry model: [Piper PA-32R-301](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-301) (registry code 7103218) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32R-8113105 - Year built: 1981 - Airframe hours: 3968 - Engines: Lycoming IO540 300 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 20, 2021 - Departed: DAN, Danville, VA - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: MTV, Blue Ridge Airport, runway 13, 5,002 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, Satellite tracking device, Onboard weather, Handheld GPS, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; injuries: none; military, recreational, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 18, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,550 total, 1,480 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: KMTV - METAR: KMTV 041655Z AUTO 07005KT 10SM SCT070 25/12 A3000 RMK AO2 T02480117 ## 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 20220604009529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220604009529A), Jun 4, 2022: Piper PA-32R-301, Martinsville, VA, Substantial damage. Pilot go distracted by other airplane giving position reports that were not correct and his attention was on where that airplane was when he rolled onto final… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 14, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105193. 3.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 2.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13988005&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 110 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13987821&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Interview-Rel.pdf - Investigative photos (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 221 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13987759&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=investigative%20Photo%27s-Rel.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. --- 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.