# NTSB GAA18CA462: Piper PA24, N7893P, Evanston, WY, July 29, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 29, 2018, 14:45 local (20:45 UTC) - Place: Evanston, WY - Coordinates: 41.274723, -111.034721 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.2747&lon=-111.0347&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: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 10, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 97969 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA462 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97969/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97969 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA462 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to extend the landing gear during landing. Contributing to the accident were the pilot's distraction and his failure to complete the appropriate checklist 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-24-250, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=7102404), [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-24-250, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=7102404), [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: [Piper PA-24-250, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of checklist](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 336 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: attention](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 226 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot in the retractable landing gear-equipped airplane reported that, during the cross-country flight, the autopilot failed, and he struggled to use the sectional charts. He added that heat and wind made the flight uncomfortable, and smoke from wildland fires decreased visibility to about 5 statute miles, so he decided to land. He completed some of the GUMPS (gas [proper tank selected], undercarriage [gear down], mixture [full mix for landing], and propeller [high rpm setting]) checklist and decided not to extend the landing gear to have better control. Upon arrival at the airport, he decided to leave the landing gear retracted as he searched for the windsock on the airport, but he could not find it. Subsequently, he attempted to contact the airport on the Unicom frequency, but he later determined that he had used an incorrect frequency. He decided to land on runway 5, which he later identified was the incorrect runway given the wind direction. He forgot to extend the landing gear before landing. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the longerons and bulkheads. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot in the retractable landing gear-equipped airplane reported that during the cross-country flight, the auto-pilot failed and he struggled to use the sectional charts. Additionally, heat and wind made the flight uncomfortable, and smoke from wildland fires decreased visibility to about 5 statute miles so he decided to land. Upon arrival at the airport he decided to leave the landing gear retracted as he searched for the wind sock on the airport. He did not locate the wind sock and attempted to contact the airport on the airport's Unicom, but later discovered that he had used an incorrect frequency. He decided to land on runway 5, which he later identified was the incorrect runway given the wind direction. He recalled that he had completed some variation of the GUMPS checklist but forgot to extend the landing gear and landed with the landing gear retracted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the longerons and bulkheads. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7893P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7893P), registered now, S/N 24-3122 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA24 (250) - Registry model: [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (registry code 7102404) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-3122 - Year built: 1962 - Airframe hours: 4000 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540 SER 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 11, 2018 - Departed: KRWL, Rawlins, WY - Destination: KCPM, Compton, CA - Airport: EVW, Evanston-Uinta County Burns Fi, runway 05, 7,300 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Auto-pilot, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 80; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 17, 2018; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 2,356.1 total, 1,575 in this make and model, 2,307.3 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 15 knots, gusting 25 - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.32 inHg - Observed at: KEVW ## 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 20180729018329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180729018329A), Jul 29, 2018: Piper PA-24-250, Evanston, WY, Substantial damage. Pilot became distracted during the approach phase of flight due to unanticipated wind gusts and haze/smoke from a local forest fire. Pilot did not put gear… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 25, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97969. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 755 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471342&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photo (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 481 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471343&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-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.