# NTSB GAA16LA087: Piper PA 31, N27405, Clearwater, FL, December 12, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 12, 2015, 15:05 local (20:05 UTC) - Place: Clearwater, FL - Coordinates: 27.977222, -82.759162 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.9772&lon=-82.7592&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: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 26, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 92481 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16LA087 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92481/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92481 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16LA087 ## 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. - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-31-350, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=7103110), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/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: [Piper PA-31-350, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=7103110), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-31-350, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=7103110), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/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-31-350, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=7103110), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) - [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Piper PA-31-350, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=7103110), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis The commercial pilot reported that, on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, he applied flaps and pushed the landing gear lever "completely down" and then saw the landing gear extension indicator lights illuminate. On short final and as the airplane passed through 500 ft above ground level, he verified that the three green landing gear extension lights had illuminated and applied full flaps for landing. Subsequently, the airplane landed hard with the gear retracted and skidded to a stop on the runway. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that it sustained substantial damage to the fuselage keel beam, formers, and stringers. Postaccident examination of the landing gear system revealed no evidence of any faults, malfunctions, or anomalies with the system, including the landing gear extension indicator lights and warning horn. It is likely that the pilot failed to extend the landing gear, which resulted in the gear-up landing. ## Factual narrative On December 12, 2016, about 1505 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-31-350 airplane, N27405, landed gear-up during the touchdown at Clearwater Air Park, Clearwater, Florida. The commercial pilot and two passengers were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by Creative Marketing Associates Incorporated, Saint Petersburg, Florida, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 as a day, visual flight rules passenger flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated from the Peter O Knight Airport, Tampa, Florida, about 1455 EST. The pilot reported that after a cross-country flight in a retractable, tricycle landing gear-equipped airplane, he entered the traffic pattern at the destination airport. He recalled that on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, he applied flaps, pushed the landing gear lever down and performed his GGUMPS checklist. He reported that, "I saw the landing gear down lights lighting up after I pushed the landing gear lever completely down." He reported that on short final, as the airplane passed through 500 feet above ground level, "I verified three green landing gear down indicator lights and applied full flaps for landing." He recalled that the airplane landed hard on the runway and skidded to a stop on the runway. The pilot held a Commercial Pilot Certificate, and has reported the accumulation of 4,664 total flight hours, of which 860 hours were accumulated in the accident airplane. He reported that he had accumulated 5 hours in the accident airplane the day before the accident. The accident airplane had flown 9.6 hours since a 100 hour inspection was completed two months prior to the accident. A post-accident inspection of the airplane by FAA Airworthiness Inspectors noted substantial damage to the fuselage keel beams, stringers and formers. Photographs of the left and right landing gear, leg and wheel doors provided by the FAA Airworthiness Inspector, reveal that no damage existed to the either leg or wheel doors, consistent with the landing gear being retracted during landing. Following the accident, a landing gear extension and retraction check was completed under the supervision of an FAA Aviation Safety Inspector, and a separate inspection was conducted by an FAA Airworthiness Inspector; both inspections confirmed that there were no faults, malfunctions or anomalies with the landing gear extension or retraction system, including indicator lights and warning horn. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N27405](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N27405), registered now, S/N 31-7752164, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA 31 (350) - Registry model: [Piper PA-31-350](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-350) (registry code 7103110) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 31-7752164 - Year built: 1977 - Airframe hours: 7255.5 - Engines: LYCOMING LTIO-540-J2BD 350 horsepower reciprocating; LYCOMING TIO-540-J2BD 350 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 91 - Operator: Creative Marketing Associates Inc - Registered owner: Creative Marketing Associates Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 9, 2015 - Departed: TPF, TAMPA, FL - Destination: CLW, Clearwater, FL - Airport: CLW, Clearwater Air Park, runway 16, 4,108 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Onboard weather ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 14, 2014; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 4,664 total, 860 in this make and model, 3,999 as pilot in command, 135 in the last 90 days, 33 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Observed at: KPIE, 5 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 20151212020479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20151212020479A), Dec 12, 2015: Piper PA-31-350, Clearwater, FL, Substantial damage. The aircraft landed on runway 16, at clw, without the landing gear being extended. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 7, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92481. 5.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40447381&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 333 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40447382&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Photos (item 3, .PDF, 640 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40447383&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-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.