# NTSB GAA18CA207: Piper PA34, N4567T, San Diego, CA, April 10, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 10, 2018, 14:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: San Diego, CA - Coordinates: 32.572498, -116.980552 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5725&lon=-116.9806&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: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 5, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 97012 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA207 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97012/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97012 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA207 ## Probable cause The pilot receiving instruction and flight instructor’s failure to properly configure the landing gear before landing, which resulted in landing with the landing gear retracted. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023200): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not used/operated (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023200/cases.md?model=7103405), [All aircraft, 113 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023200/cases.md) - [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=7103405), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md) - [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=7103405), [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: [Piper PA-34-200, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=7103405), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that the pilot receiving instruction performed a simulated single-engine approach. He wanted to be able to communicate more easily with the pilot, so he set the simulated failed engine to 15 inches of mercury manifold pressure since the landing gear warning horn will sound if the manifold pressure is set below 14 inches of mercury. He added that he did not verify the gear was down and locked with the three green extended lights illuminated. He reported that, just before landing, he heard the landing gear warning horn but attributed it to the stall warning horn. The pilot receiving instruction reported that he did not recall hearing any audible alarm. The airplane landed with the gear retracted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both the wings. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The flight instructor reported, while the pilot receiving instruction performed a simulated single-engine approach, he wanted to be able to communicate more easily with the pilot, so he set the simulated failed engine to 15" of manifold pressure; the landing gear warning horn will sound if the manifold pressure is set below 14". He added that he did not verify the gear was down and locked with the three green extended lights illuminated. He reported that, just before landing, he heard the landing gear warning horn, but attributed it to the stall warning horn. The pilot receiving instruction reported that he did not recall hearing any audible alarm. The airplane landed with the gear retracted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engines. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4567T](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4567T), registered now, S/N 34-7250136, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA34 (200) - Registry model: [Piper PA-34-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-200) (registry code 7103405) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 34-7250136 - Year built: 1972 - Airframe hours: 7151 - Engines: LYCOMING LIO-360-C1E6 200 horsepower reciprocating; LYCOMING IO-360-C1E6 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 20, 2018 - Departed: MYF, SAN DIEGO, CA - Destination: SDM, San Diego, CA - Airport: SDM, Brown Field Muni, runway 26R, 7,972 × 150 ft, concrete - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 56; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 11, 2016; seat: right; flight hours: 5,239 total, 833 in this make and model, 5,065 as pilot in command, 34 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 44; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 15, 2017; seat: left; flight hours: 409 total, 45 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: KSDM, 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). - [Incident 20180410000729I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180410000729I), Apr 10, 2018: Piper PA-34-200, San Diego, CA, Minor damage. This was a practice multi -engine stop and go landing / pattern work. The fourth landing was a simulated engine out single engine approach. The instructor… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 12, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97012. 5.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40463879&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40463880&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-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.