# NTSB FTW03LA063: Piper PA-24-180, N6068P, Odessa, TX, December 13, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 13, 2002, 15:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Odessa, TX - Coordinates: 28.689851, -97.209274 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.6899&lon=-97.2093&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 56235 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW03LA063 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56235/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW03LA063 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadvertent failure to extended the landing gear. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Wheels up landing, landing - flare/touchdown - wheels up landing - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - grass - terrain condition - high vegetation ## Analysis The flight returned to the airport from the local area and entered left downwind for the runway. During the landing/flare, the pilot realized that he did not have the landing gear down. The airplane came in contact with the runway, skidded 1,000-1,200 feet, then exited the runway into grass, weeds, and soft dirt before coming to rest. The airplane was lifted, the landing gear manually extended, and the airplane towed to the hangar. The lower forward cockpit structures and the firewall were damaged. The 893-hour private pilot had accumulated 282-hours in the same make and model retractable gear airplane. ## Factual narrative On December 13, 2002, at 1530 central standard time, a Piper PA-24-180, airplane, N6068P, sustained substantial damage during a gear-up landing at the Odessa-Schlemeyer Airport, near Odessa, Texas. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The private pilot, sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight, and a flight plan was not filed. The personal flight originated from the Odessa-Schlemeyer Airport approximately 1330. On the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) the pilot reported that the flight returned to the airport from the local area and entered left downwind for runway 16. During the before landing checks, the pilot thought that he had extended the landing gear. However, after the landing/flare, he realized that he did not have the landing gear down. The airplane came in contact with the runway, skidded 1,000-1,200 feet, then exited the runway into grass, weeds, and soft dirt before coming to rest. With the assistance of airport personnel, the airplane was lifted, the landing gear manually extended, and the airplane towed to the hangar. The private pilot had accumulated 893 hours of flight time, of which 282 hours was in the accident make and model of retractable gear airplane. The pilot and the FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, found substantial damage to the lower forward cockpit structures and the engine firewall. The propeller was found bent. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6068P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6068P), registered now, S/N 24-1164, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-24-180 - Registry model: [Piper PA-24-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-180) (registry code 7102403) (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: 24-1164 - Airframe hours: 4323 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: David M. Baldwin - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 12, 2002, 42 hours before - Departed: ODO, Odessa, TX - Airport: ODO, Odessa-Schlemeyer, runway 16, 5,003 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review January 19, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 893 total, 282 in this make and model, 686 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: ODO ## 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 20021213033869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021213033869A), Dec 13, 2002: Piper PA24180, Odessa, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) On December 13, 2002, at approximately 15:30 CST, local time, the pilot of Piper PA-24-180 single engine comanche aircraft, N6068P, during landing runway… 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.