# NTSB FTW97LA253: Piper PA-31T, N974DC, Austin, TX, July 4, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 4, 1997, 08:30 local (13:30 UTC) - Place: Austin, TX - Location: 30.4738° N, 98.1214° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at SPICEWOOD (88R), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.4738&lon=-98.1214&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 31, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 20270 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW97LA253 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20270/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA253 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to extend the landing gear. A factor relating to the accident was: the pilot's failure to follow the landing checklist. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Wheels up landing, landing - checklist - not followed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - gear extension - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - object - hangar/airport building ## Analysis After an uneventful 1.5 hour on-demand air taxi flight, the pilot made a wheels up landing. He reported that during the flare, he realized that the gear was not extended. He attempted to execute a 'go-around', but was too late as the right propeller contacted the runway surface. Subsequently, the left propeller contacted the runway, and the aircraft 'skipped down the runway', went through grass, and impacted a hangar. ## Factual narrative On July 4, 1997, approximately 0830 central daylight time, a Piper PA-31T airplane, N974DC, owned by Ocaas L.L.C., of Amarillo, Texas, and operated by O'Hara Flying Service, of Amarillo, Texas, was substantially damaged following a wheels up landing at Austin Airpark, Austin, Texas. Both occupants, the airline transport rated pilot and passenger, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an IFR flight plan was filed for the Title 14 CFR Part 135 on-demand air taxi flight. The flight originated from Amarillo, Texas, at 0700. The pilot reported to the NTSB investigator-in-charge, via NTSB Form 6120.1/2, that the purpose of the flight was to transport a passenger to Austin and return to Amarillo. The revenue passenger told the pilot that he was not sure as to which airport near Austin he was supposed to land at, and that he thought it was "Austin Executive Airport." With that information, the pilot flew the aircraft to, and landed at Austin Executive without incident. After landing, the passenger told the pilot that it was the wrong airport. The pilot then took off again and was vectored to Austin Airpark. The short flight to the Airpark was flown in VMC conditions at 1,000 feet AGL. The pilot stated that during the final landing flare, he had "forgotten" to lower the landing gear. He then attempted to execute a "go-around", but was too late as the right propeller contacted the runway surface. Subsequently, the left propeller contacted the runway, and the aircraft "skipped down the runway", went through the grass, and impacted a hangar. The impact with the hangar resulted in the right wing being destroyed and the left wing sustaining structural damage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N974DC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N974DC-2003-12-10), registration cancelled 2003-12-10, S/N 31T-8120027, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-31T - Registry model: [Piper PA-31T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31t) (registry code 7103124) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-60A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-60a) (registry code 52043, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 0027 - Airframe hours: 3840 - Engines: P&W PT-6A-28 630 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Registered owner: Ocaas L.L.C. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, June 9, 1997, 30 hours before - Departed: AMA, AMARILLO, TX - Destination: AUS - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: 88R, Austin Airpark, runway 18, 3,000 × 40 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 2,800 total, 125 in this make and model, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,800 ft broken - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: AUS ## 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 19970704020119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970704020119A), Jul 4, 1997: Piper PA31T, Spicewood, TX, Substantial damage. Landed at wrong airport. Departed. Failed extend gear. Props hit, began go around late. Hit a hangar. (-23) attempted landing to the south and did not put gear… 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.