# NTSB LAX00LA131: Piper PA-31-T1, N5WC, Scottsdale, AZ, March 20, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 19, 2000, 19:45 local (Mar 20, 2000, 02:45 UTC) - Place: Scottsdale, AZ - Coordinates: 33.659851, -111.869956 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6599&lon=-111.8700&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 17, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 51202 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX00LA131 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/51202/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA131 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to ensure that the landing gear was lowered before touchdown. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Wheels up landing, landing - flare/touchdown - gear extension - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - checklist - not verified, pilot in command (cause) - wheels up landing - inadvertent, pilot in command - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - object - runway light ## Analysis The pilot reported that while landing, he felt the rudder pedals vibrating. The airplane settled and he heard the propellers striking the runway. The airplane veered to the right off the runway centerline and struck a runway light. The pressure bulkhead was punctured and there was damage to the right engine air scoop cowling, the right wing leading edge, the flaps, gear doors, bottom antennas, pitot tube, and right spinner. An FAA inspector witnessed the landing gear being swung and stated that no discrepancies were noted during the test. The landing gear light and horn systems functioned normally. No preexisting anomalies were found. ## Factual narrative On March 19, 2000, at 1945 hours mountain standard time, a Piper PA-31-T1, N5WC, landed gear up at the Scottsdale, Arizona, airport. The airplane, operated by Gunslinger Investment Corporation, Telluride, Colorado, sustained substantial damage. The airline transport pilot and passenger were not injured. The personal cross-country flight had originated in Telluride, Colorado, at 1815, and was terminating at the time of the accident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed. The pilot reported that while landing on runway 21, he felt the rudder pedals vibrating. The airplane settled and he heard the propellers striking the runway. The airplane veered to the right off the runway centerline and struck a runway light. The pressure bulkhead was punctured and there was damage to the right engine air scoop cowling, the right wing leading edge, the flaps, gear doors, bottom antennas, pitot tube, and right spinner. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector from the Scottsdale Flight Standards District Office responded to the site. He reported that on March 23, 2000, he witnessed the landing gear being swung at the Scottsdale airport. He stated that no discrepancies were noted during the test. The landing gear light and horn systems functioned normally. ## Aircraft - Registration: N5WC (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-31-T1 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 31T-7904028 - Airframe hours: 2368 - Engines: P&W -PT6A-11 500 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Gunslinger Investment - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 11, 1999, 68 hours before - Departed: TEX, TELLURIDE, CO - Destination: SDL - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: SDL, Scottsdale, runway 21, 8,249 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 4,000 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 3,900 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: PHX, 13 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). - [Accident 20000319011519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000319011519A), Mar 19, 2000: Piper PA31T1, Scottsdale, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot was attempting to land on rwy 21 at sdl. Upon touchdown the pilot states his outside reference was not normal (too low). At that point he heard… 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.