# NTSB ERA25LA105: Piper PA44, N711AV, Fairfield, NJ, January 12, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 12, 2025, 14:25 local (19:25 UTC) - Place: Fairfield, NJ - Coordinates: 40.874769, -74.281203 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8748&lon=-74.2812&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): 199598 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA105 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199598/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199598 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA105 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to extend the landing gear prior to landing, which resulted in a gear up landing. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s inadequate supervision of the pilot receiving instruction. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incomplete action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041040): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-44-180, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041040/cases.md?model=7104402), [All aircraft, 105 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041040/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-44-180, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=7104402), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/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-44-180, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=7104402), [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-44-180, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=7104402), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) ## Analysis During an instructional flight, while approaching the runway to land, the flight instructor told the pilot receiving instruction to check that the landing gear had been extended. While the instructor handled radio transmissions and watched an aircraft that was still on the runway, the pilot receiving instruction performed the prelanding checklist but did not extend the landing gear. Due to the distraction of the radios and traffic on the runway, the instructor did not notice that the landing gear remained stowed. During the flare to land, both pilots realized the landing gear remained up and the airplane settled onto the runway with the landing gear retracted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower fuselage. Postaccident examination of the landing gear and landing gear position warning system revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N711AV](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N711AV), registered now, S/N 44-7995215 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA44 (180) - Registry model: [Piper PA-44-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-44-180) (registry code 7104402) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 44-7995215 - Year built: 1989 - Airframe hours: 5789 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1H6 180 horsepower reciprocating; LYCOMING LO-360-A1H6 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Aa Aero Inc - Registered owner: Aa Aero Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 6, 2024 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: CDW, Essex County, runway 22, 4,552 × 80 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 31; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 21, 2024; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,516 total, 310 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 32; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 25, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,600 total, 430 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 41 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 29.99 inHg - Observed at: CDW - METAR: KCDW 121853Z 33006KT 10SM FEW043 05/M06 A2999 RMK AO2 SLP164 T00501056 ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Incident 20250112002729I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250112002729I), Jan 12, 2025: Piper PA-44-180, Fairfield, NJ, Minor damage. PIC (CFI) neglected to follow aircraft POH landing checklist and 141 school procedures to extend the landing gear and confirm down and locked position,… ## Other investigations on N711AV (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 NYC03LA056](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC03LA056), Feb 26, 2003: Piper PA-44-180 (N711AV), Blue Bell, PA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control after a loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 22, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199598. 2.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18379600&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 736 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18355618&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photographs-Rel.pdf - Landing gear examination results (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 112 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18367632&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N711AV%20BELLY%20LANDING%20ASSESSMENT_Redacted-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.