# NTSB FTW95LA383: Piper PA-23, N2291P, Greeley, CO, September 8, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 8, 1995, 16:35 local (22:35 UTC) - Place: Greeley, CO - Coordinates: 40.440612, -104.669944 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4406&lon=-104.6699&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 14, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19574 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW95LA383 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19574/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95LA383 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY INADVERTENTLY SELECTING A LESS SUITABLE AREA FOR LANDING (THAN THE RUNWAY). FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: A MALFUNCTION OF THE NOSE LANDING GEAR MICRO-SWITCH, WHICH RESULTED IN A FALSE INDICATION THAT THE NOSE LANDING GEAR WAS NOT DOWN-AND-LOCKED, AND ROUGH/UNEVEN TERRAIN IN THE SELECTED (GRASS) LANDING AREA BESIDE THE RUNWAY. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, approach - landing gear,gear indicating system - malfunction (contributing factor) - landing gear,gear indicating system - false indication (contributing factor) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) ## Analysis AFTER ENTERING THE PATTERN ON RETURN FROM A LOCAL AREA PERSONAL FLIGHT, THE PILOT COULD NOT GET A DOWN-AND-LOCKED INDICATION OF THE NOSE LANDING GEAR. THE AIRPORT MANAGER INFORMED THE PILOT THAT ALL THREE LANDING GEAR APPEARED TO BE IN THE DOWN POSITION, AND SUGGESTED THAT HE CHECK THE LIGHT BULB AND CIRCLE UNTIL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED. THE PILOT REPLIED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE THEN LANDED THE AIRCRAFT IN A GRASS AREA BETWEEN THE RUNWAY AND TAXIWAY. THIS GRASS AREA WAS ROUGH AND UNEVEN. THE LANDING GEAR REMAINED DOWN AND LOCKED DURING THE LANDING ROLL. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED THE NOSE LANDING GEAR MICRO-SWITCH WAS OUT OF ADJUSTMENT. IN THE EVENT OF A NOSE LANDING GEAR UNSAFE INDICATION, THE AIRCRAFT OPERATING PROCEDURES WERE TO CONDUCT A NORMAL FULL FLAP LANDING AND HOLD THE NOSE GEAR FROM TOUCHING DOWN AS LONG AS POSSIBLE. ## Factual narrative On September 8, 1995, at 1635 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA- 23, N2291P, landed in the grass beside the runway at Greeley Weld County Airport, Greeley, Colorado. The commercial pilot was not injured and the aircraft sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this 14 CFR Part 91 local area personal flight and no flight plan was filed. According to the airport manager, the pilot called UNICOM and reported that he had no down and locked indication on his nose landing gear. Persons on the ground observed that all three landing gear appeared to be down. The airport manager said that it was suggested to the pilot that he check the light bulb and circle until the fire department arrived. The pilot responded in the affirmative and then proceeded to land in the grass area between the runway and taxiway. The damage to the aircraft occurred during landing roll in the grass area which was rough and uneven. During landing roll, the landing gear remained in the down and locked position; however, the rough terrain caused the left wing and engine to contact the ground damaging the wing, engine, and propeller. Examination of the aircraft by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed a short in the nose landing gear down and a locked micro switch. According to the POH (pilot operating handbook), in the event the nose landing gear does not extend or indicates unsafe, a normal full flap landing should be made and the nose landing gear should be held off the ground as long as possible. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2291P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2291P), registered now, S/N 23-902, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23 - Registry model: [Piper PA-23](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23) (registry code 7102302) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 23-902 - Airframe hours: 2668 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Richard C. Nolan - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 1994, 30 hours before - Departed: GXY - Airport: GXY, Greeley Weld County, runway 27, 6,200 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 85; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 20,000 total, 200 in this make and model, 20,000 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: GXY, 1 nm away ## 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 19950908028459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950908028459A), Sep 8, 1995: Piper PA23, Greeley, CO, Substantial damage. Unable safe nose gear for landing. Flyby was down. Landed rough grass between runway. Defect nose micro switch. ## Other investigations on N2291P (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 LAX67D0041](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX67D0041), Jun 23, 1966: Piper PA-23 (N2291P), Torrance, CA, substantial damage 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.