# NTSB ERA23LA301: Piper PA-31-310, N400S, Lumberton, NJ, July 14, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: July 14, 2023, 12:08 UTC
- Place: Lumberton, NJ
- Coordinates: 39.934278, -74.807222 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9343&lon=-74.8072&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: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 192656
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA301
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192656/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192656
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA301

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to extend the landing gear before 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 PA-31-310, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=7103102), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md)
- [Landing gear system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023200): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not used/operated (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-31-310, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023200/cases.md?model=7103102), [All aircraft, 113 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023200/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 PA-31-310, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=7103102), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that during the landing approach he was distracted and forgot to extend the airplane’s landing gear. The airplane subsequently touched down on the runway and the fuselage and wings were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N400S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N400S), registered now, S/N 31-7712083, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31-310
- Registry model: [Piper PA-31-310](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-310) (registry code 7103102) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 31-7712083
- Year built: 1977
- Airframe hours: 7137
- Engines: Lycoming TIO-540-A2C 310 horsepower reciprocating; Lycoming TIO-540-A2C 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 2, 2023, 24 hours before
- Departed: N14, Lumberton, NJ
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: N14, Flying W, runway 19, 3,496 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Onboard weather, Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 10, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,824 total, 542 in this make and model, 1,725 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Temperature: 90 °F
- Observed at: VAY, 2 nm away

## 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 20230714010219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230714010219A), Jul 14, 2023: Piper PA-31-310, Lumberton, NJ, Substantial damage. Airman of a PA-31 Piper navajo departed Flying W Airport (N14) for piseco airport (K09). Due to a high cylinder head temperature gauge reading on the right…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 16, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192656. 4.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 3.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16118647&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120%20for%20Baur,%20N400S_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16118902&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MFR%20LA301-Rel.pdf
- Investigative photos (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 851 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16282007&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photos%20LA301-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.

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