# NTSB ERA25LA351: Piper PA28R, N47742, Smyrna, TN, September 17, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 17, 2025, 22:39 UTC - Place: Smyrna, TN - Coordinates: 36.009671, -86.520154 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0097&lon=-86.5202&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 December 4, 2025 - 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): 201033 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA351 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/201033/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201033 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA351 ## 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. - [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-28R-201T, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=7102813), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md) - [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-201T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=7102813), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/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-28R-201T, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=7102813), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during landing he continued the descent into a normal flare, the airplane settled and touched down with the landing gear retracted. The airplane remained aligned with the centerline and slid to a stop resulting in substantial damage to the Underside of the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N47742](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N47742), registered now, S/N 28R-7803011, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA28R (201T) - Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-201T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-201t) (registry code 7102813) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (registry code 17019, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28R-7803011 - Year built: 1977 - Airframe hours: 3777.2 - Engines: CONT MOTOR TSIO-360 SER 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Jmd Enterprises LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 6, 2025 - Airport: MQY, Smyrna, runway 32, 8,038 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial, private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; last flight review August 14, 2025; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,852 total, 531 in this make and model, 2,618 as pilot in command, 66 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days - Pilot-rated passenger; age 58; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 20, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 218 total, 136 in this make and model, 185 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.99 inHg - Observed at: MQY - METAR: METAR KMQY 172256Z 08003KT 10SM CLR 31/16 A2999 RMK AO2 SLP156 T03060156 ## 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 20250917013289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250917013289A), Sep 17, 2025: Piper PA-28R-201T, Smyrna, TN, Substantial damage. On 9/17/2025, [privacy data omitted] departed mqy to conduct traffic pattern work in [privacy data omitted] to include soft landing practice. [privacy data… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 4, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201033. 21.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19381384&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1_Form%20Reliford1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Passenger/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 2, PDF, 10 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19382287&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1%20-%20Devonald1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19584767&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MoR%20Pilot-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 4, PDF, 5 pages, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19382679&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20-Rel.pdf - Accident video (item 5, MP4, 16.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19406626&FileExtension=mp4&FileName=661_ch5_20250917173820_20250917174203-Rel.mp4 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.