# NTSB ERA24LA046: Piper PA-39, N289WW, Highgate, VT, October 29, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 29, 2023, 11:56 local (15:56 UTC) - Place: Highgate, VT - Coordinates: 44.940278, -73.097472 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.9403&lon=-73.0975&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 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): 193415 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA046 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193415/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193415 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA046 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadvertent retraction of the landing gear during landing rollout, which resulted in a landing gear collapse. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action selection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-39, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md?model=7103902), [All aircraft, 397 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md) - [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-39, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=7103902), [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 roll: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-39, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=7103902), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Piper PA-39, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7103902), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Piper PA-39, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=7103902), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during the landing rollout on a 3,001-ft-long, asphalt runway, he intended to retract the flaps, but instead he retracted the landing gear. The result was that all three of the landing gear assemblies retracted into their respective wheel wells during the landing roll. The lower fuselage stringers were substantially damaged. The pilot added that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. The airplane was equipped with a squat switch on the left main landing gear that was designed to prevent the landing gear from inadvertently retracting; however, the switch required that sufficient weight be on the landing gear in order to work effectively. The pilot stated, and a video of the landing confirmed, that the airplane was still moving at relatively high speed when he selected the landing gear handle to the retracted position. The pilot reported that the squat switch was tested at the last annual inspection and that it operated normally during the inspection. Based on this information, it is likely that the airplane’s wings were still generating lift when the landing gear handle was selected to the retracted position and the gear struts was not compressed enough to activate the squat switch. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N289WW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N289WW), registered now, S/N 39-84, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-39 (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Piper PA-39](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-39) (registry code 7103902) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 39-84 - Year built: 1971 - Airframe hours: 7836.5 - Engines: Lycoming LIO-320-B1A 160 horsepower reciprocating; Lycoming IO-320-B1A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 15, 2022, 76.6 hours before - Departed: FSO, Highgate, VT - Airport: FSO, Franklin County State, runway 01/19, 3,001 × 60 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display, ADS-B, Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 22, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 25,600 total, 154 in this make and model, 20,800 as pilot in command, 108.5 in the last 90 days, 44.9 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 3 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 40 °F, dew point 31 °F - Altimeter: 30.24 inHg - Observed at: FSO - METAR: KFSO 291555Z AUTO 07003KT 10SM SCT043 OVC050 05/M01 A3024 RMK AO2 T00471007 ## 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 20231029017989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231029017989A), Oct 29, 2023: Piper PA-39, Highgate, VT, Substantial damage. While conducting a local flight, the pilot flew a normal approach and landing to runway 36 at kfso. During the landing rollout the PIC went to retract the… ## Docket (8 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 25, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193415. 15.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16431092&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01%20-%20NTSB%206120%20final_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16431290&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=02%20-%20MOR%20Pilot%20Email%20Excerpt-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 67 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16431300&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=03%20-%20MOR%20Pilot%20Interview-Rel.pdf - Pilot's operating manual landing gear description excerpt (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16453199&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=08%20-%20Pilot%27s%20Operating%20Manual%20Landing%20Gear%20Excerpt-Rel.pdf - Weather report (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 174 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16431589&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=04%20-%20METARs-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 6, PDF, 4 pages, 550 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16431216&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=05%20-%20Investigation%20Photos-Rel.pdf - Maintenance facility damage assessment (item 7, PDF, 4 pages, 672 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16431310&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=07%20-%20Damage%20Examination%20by%20Border%20Air%20LTD_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Video file (mov, 50 seconds, 8.7MB) (item 8, MOV, 9.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16431493&FileExtension=mov&FileName=06%20-%20Accident%20Video-Rel.mov 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.