# NTSB ERA24LA089: Piper PA-34-200, N33300, Groton, CT, January 9, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 9, 2024, 12:15 local (17:15 UTC) - Place: Groton, CT - Coordinates: 41.330056, -72.045139 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3301&lon=-72.0451&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: 2 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): 193664 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA089 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193664/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193664 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA089 ## Probable cause The pilot receiving instruction’s failure to extend the landing gear prior to landing. Also contributing, was the flight instructor’s failure to monitor the airplane’s configuration while on approach to land. ## 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 · Not used/operated (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=7103405), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=7103405), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring equip/instruments](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525/cases.md?model=7103405), [All aircraft, 142 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525/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-34-200, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=7103405), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=7103405), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis On the downwind leg of the traffic pattern the pilot receiving instruction and the flight instructor were having a conversation about when to extend the landing gear, as the pilot receiving instruction was new to this airplane. During this discussion the pilots were contacted by air traffic control (ATC) and a conversation took place about a possible change of runway. After the exchange with ATC the pilots did not return to their conversation about when to extend the landing gear. After being cleared to land, the pilot receiving instruction performed a normal approach to landing. The pilots reported that they realized they had forgotten to extend the landing gear when they heard the airplane contact the runway. The airplane skidded down the asphalt, resulting in substantial damage to the external longerons of the fuselage. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane was equipped with a landing gear position warning horn that was designed to sound when either of the throttles were pulled back for landing. Neither pilot specifically remembered hearing the warning horn during the accident landing. After the airplane was recovered, the landing gear warning horn was tested and was found to operate normally. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N33300](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N33300-2025-03-22), registration cancelled 2025-03-22, S/N 34-7450205, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-34-200 - Registry model: [Piper PA-34-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-200) (registry code 7103405) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 34-7450205 - Year built: 1974 - Airframe hours: 20560.5 - Engines: Lycoming LIO-360-C1E6 200 horsepower reciprocating; Lycoming IO-360-C1E6 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Upgrade Incorporated, doing business as Action Multi Ratings - Registered owner: Upgrade Incorporated - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 8, 2024, 3.1 hours before - Departed: GON, Groton, CT - Airport: GON, Groton-New London, runway 05, 5,000 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 23; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 1, 2023; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,644 total, 246 in this make and model, 1,510 as pilot in command, 168 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 21, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,969 total, 4 in this make and model, 2,596 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.30 inHg - Observed at: GON - METAR: KGON 091656Z 09008KT 10SM CLR 04/01 A3030 RMK AO2 SLP259 T00440011 ## 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 20240109000279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240109000279A), Jan 9, 2024: Piper PA-34-200, Groton, CT, Substantial damage. On January 9, 2024, at approximately 1212 (EST) the mishap aircraft was involved in a wheels up landing resulting in substantial damage to the aircraft. The… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 29, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193664. 11.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (instructor) (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 6.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16691510&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01%20MicahPersonForm6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot statement (instructor) (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 986 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16691337&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=02%20Written%20statement%20-%20Person,%20Micah_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (pilot receiving instruction) (item 3, PDF, 11 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16691347&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=03%20NTSB%206120%20Form%20(Lee)_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's 6120 attachment statement (pilot receiving instruction) (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 79 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16691158&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=04%20ANDY.LEE.ASRS%206120%20Statement-Rel.pdf - Pilot's written statement (pilot receiving instruction) (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 102 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16690949&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=05%20Written%20statement%20-%20Lee,%20Andrew_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 6, PDF, 5 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16689822&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=06%20Investigation%20Photographs-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - landing gear warning horn (item 7, PDF, 2 pages, 122 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16744268&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=07%20Gear%20Warning%20Horn%20Check%20MOR-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.