# NTSB GAA18CA418: Piper PA28R, N7716C, Houston, TX, July 10, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 10, 2018, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Houston, TX - Coordinates: 30.061111, -95.55278 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0611&lon=-95.5528&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: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 26, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 97751 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA418 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97751/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97751 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA418 ## Probable cause The pilot receiving instruction's failure to extend the landing gear and the flight instructor's failure to ensure that the landing gear were extended during landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot receiving instruction's and instructor's failure to conduct a prelanding checklist. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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-28R-200, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=7102811), [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-28R-200, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-200, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-200, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of checklist](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-200, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 336 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/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: [Piper PA-28R-200, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot reported that he was receiving commercial instruction in an airplane with retractable landing gear during a cross-country flight. He added that, while he turned the airplane from the downwind leg to the base leg of the traffic pattern for the runway, he did not perform the checklist, and the flight instructor did not verity that the landing gear were extended. The airplane touched down on the runway with the landing gear retracted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the external longerons on the lower fuselage. The pilot receiving instruction reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The private pilot reported that he was receiving commercial instruction in an airplane with retractable landing gear during a cross country flight to an unfamiliar airport. He added that while he turned the airplane from the downwind leg to the base leg of the traffic pattern for the runway, he did not perform the checklist, and the flight instructor did not verity that the landing gear were extended. The airplane touched down on the runway with the landing gear retracted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the external longerons on the lower fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot did not submit the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report Form 6120.1. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7716C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7716C-2020-10-03), registration cancelled 2020-10-03, S/N 28R-7635114 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA28R (200) - Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200) (registry code 7102811) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28R-7635114 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360 SER reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Ascent Aviation LLC - Registered owner: Ascent Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: T41, La Porte, TX - Destination: T41, La Porte, TX - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: DWH, David Wayne Hooks Memorial, runway 17R, 7,009 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; flight hours: 400 total, 100 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: KDWH ## 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 20180710010799I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180710010799I), Jul 10, 2018: Piper PA-28R-200, Spring, TX, Minor damage. On approach to landing, the pilot forgot to lower the landing gear. The pilot submitted a incident statement . During the investigation, the pilot could not… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 9, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97751. 310 KB in all. - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 1, .PDF, 73 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40472757&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (item 2, .PDF, 2 photos, 148 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40472758&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - FAA (item 3, .PDF, 88 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40472759&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%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.