# NTSB GAA16CA506: New Piper PA-28R, N834PC, East St. Louis, IL, September 22, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 21, 2016, 20:30 local (Sep 22, 2016, 01:30 UTC) - Place: East St. Louis, IL - Coordinates: 38.570278, -90.154998 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5703&lon=-90.1550&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 15, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 94076 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA506 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94076/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94076 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA506 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to extend the landing gear, which resulted in a gear-up landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: landing gear selector](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023234): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not used/operated (probable cause); cases with it: [New Piper PA-28R-201, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023234/cases.md?model=7103203), [All aircraft, 54 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023234/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: [New Piper PA-28R-201, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=7103203), [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: [New Piper PA-28R-201, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=7103203), [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-flare/touchdown: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) (defining event); cases with it: [New Piper PA-28R-201, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=7103203), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [New Piper PA-28R-201, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=7103203), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that after four stop and go landings under night visual meteorological conditions, he planned to terminate the flight with a soft field landing. He further reported that as the airplane touched down, he heard scraping and the airplane subsequently slid to a stop on the runway. The pilot reported that he forgot to extend the landing gear for landing and did not hear the landing gear warning horn through his conventional (non-noise canceling) headset. The fuselage sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. During a postaccident interview with the chief flight instructor of the operator, he reported that the gear warning horn in the accident airplane was normally audible in the cockpit, but does not sound directly through the headset. He further reported that they are in the process of installing a "supplemental voice" gear warning horn that will sound through the airplane's audio panel. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that after four stop and go landings under night visual meteorological conditions, he planned to terminate the flight with a soft field landing. He further reported that as the airplane touched down, he heard scraping and the airplane subsequently slid to a stop on the runway. The pilot reported that he forgot to extend the landing gear for landing and did not hear the landing gear warning horn through his conventional (non-noise canceling) headset. The fuselage sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. During a postaccident interview with the chief flight instructor of the operator, he reported that the gear warning horn in the accident airplane was normally audible in the cockpit, but does not sound directly through the headset. He further reported that they are in the process of installing a "supplemental voice" gear warning horn that will sound through the airplane's audio panel. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N834PC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N834PC-2019-10-28), registration cancelled 2019-10-28, S/N 2844129, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: NEW PIPER AIRCRAFT INC PA-28R (201) - Registry model: [New Piper PA-28R-201](https://openairdocs.org/model/new-piper-pa-28r-201) (registry code 7103203) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-C1C6](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-c1c6) (registry code 41833, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2844129 - Year built: 2006 - Airframe hours: 2270.1 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-C1C6 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Saint Louis University - Registered owner: Saint Louis University - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 27, 2016 - Departed: CPS, East St. Louis, IL - Destination: CPS, East St. Louis, IL - Airport: CPS, St Louis Downtown, runway 12R, 7,002 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 80; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 23, 2016; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 16,372 total, 130 in this make and model, 16,372 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 190° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: KCPS ## 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 20160921020509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160921020509A), Sep 21, 2016: New Piper Aircraft Inc PA-28R-201, Cahokia, IL, No damage. Pilot flying for night currency, flying in a rectrable gear airplane. Pilot did not lower the gear and did a gear up landing. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 17, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94076. 523 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 257 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40459005&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 25 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40446606&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 2 photos, 241 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40446607&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.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.