# NTSB GAA17CA418: Piper PA32, San Antonio, TX, July 7, 2017

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 7, 2017, 15:10 local (20:10 UTC)
- Place: San Antonio, TX
- Coordinates: 29.528333, -98.467224 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.5283&lon=-98.4672&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: 5 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 27, 2018
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 95613
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA418
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95613/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95613
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA418

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to extend the landing gear before touchdown.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Landing gear system: main landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not used/operated (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 241 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md)
- [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [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: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the retractable-landing-gear airplane forgot to extend the landing gear before touchdown. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. After multiple requests, the pilot did not submit the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report Form 6120.1.

## Factual narrative

The pilot of the retractable landing gear airplane forgot to extend the landing gear prior to touch down. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. After multiple requests, the pilot failed to submit the NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report Form 6120.1.

## Aircraft

- Registration: XB-BNH (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA32
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: Unknown
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Unknown
- Registered owner: Unknown
- Airworthiness certificate: Unknown
- Destination: SAT, San Antonio, TX
- Flight plan: Unknown
- Airport: SAT, San Antonio Intl
- Equipment: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 17; injuries: none; foreign; medical: unknown, unknown

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 130° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observed at: KSAT, 1 nm away

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 1, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95613. 356 KB in all.

- Email to Pilot (item 1, .PDF, 40 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40460515&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Email%20to%20Pilot-Master.PDF
- Record of Accident Notification (CEN DO) (item 2, .PDF, 316 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40460516&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Accident%20Notification%20(CEN%20DO)-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.

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