# NTSB GAA18CA531: Piper PA44, N2204X, Centralia, IL, September 2, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 2, 2018, 14:20 local (19:20 UTC) - Place: Centralia, IL - Coordinates: 38.514999, -89.09111 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5150&lon=-89.0911&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 March 20, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 98242 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA531 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98242/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98242 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA531 ## Probable cause The pilot receiving instruction's failure to extend the landing gear and the flight instructor's failure to verify that the landing gear was extended before landing. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action and distraction. ## 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-44-180, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=7104402), [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 · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-44-180, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=7104402), [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-44-180, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=7104402), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-44-180, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=7104402), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: attention](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-44-180, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md?model=7104402), [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. - [Landing: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-44-180, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=7104402), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor in the twin-engine airplane reported that, during the second simulated single-engine failure approach, the pilot under instruction reduced the left engine power setting to 12 inches of manifold pressure, which activated the landing gear auditory warning horn. On downwind, the student performed the prelanding checks and asked the instructor if he should deploy the landing gear. The instructor told the student to delay the action and deploy the landing gear during the final landing checks because the student was struggling to maintain altitude. Shortly after turning to final, the student performed the final landing checks and provided verbal cues of completion but did not include the landing gear check. The instructor stated that he was distracted and focused on corrections because the student was struggling to maintain altitude and the runway centerline during the final approach. The instructor did not verify that the gear was extended. During the landing flare, the instructor realized that the landing gear was not extended, and he immediately took the controls. He leveled the airplane and landed on the runway with the gear retracted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engines. The 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 in the twin-engine airplane reported that, during the second simulated single engine failure approach, the pilot under instruction reduced the left engine power setting to 12 inches of manifold pressure, which activated the landing gear auditory warning horn. On downwind, the student performed his prelanding checks and asked the instructor if he should deploy the landing gear. Since the student was struggling to maintain altitude, the student was instructed to delay the action, and deploy the landing gear during the final landing checks. Shortly after turning final, the student performed the final landing checks and provided verbal cues of completion but did not include the landing gear check. The instructor added that he was distracted and focused on corrections because the student was struggling to maintain altitude and the runway centerline during the final approach. The instructor did not verify the gear was extended. During the landing flare, the instructor realized the landing gear was not extended and he immediately took controls. He leveled the airplane and landed on the runway 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: [N2204X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2204X), registered now, S/N 44-7995281, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA44 (180) - Registry model: [Piper PA-44-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-44-180) (registry code 7104402) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 44-7995281 - Year built: 1979 - Airframe hours: 10084.3 - Engines: Lycoming LO 360 E1A6D 180 horsepower reciprocating; Lycoming O 360-E1A60 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Airgo Inc - Registered owner: Airgo Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Unknown, August 17, 2018 - Departed: ENL, Centralia, IL - Destination: ENL, Centralia, IL - Airport: ENL, Centralia Muni, runway 18, 5,001 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 63; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 28, 2018; seat: right; flight hours: 5,612.7 total, 185.3 in this make and model, 5,231.3 as pilot in command, 294.8 in the last 90 days, 140.1 in the last 30 days, 6.5 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 21; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Observed at: KENL ## 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 20180902012919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180902012919A), Sep 2, 2018: Piper PA-44-180, Centralia, IL, Substantial damage. On September 2nd, 2018 at 1420 local time, N2204X, a Piper seminole, performed a landing with the landing gear in the retracted position at Centralia Municipal… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 5, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98242. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478621&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (item 2, .PDF, 2 photos, 78 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478622&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos-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.