# NTSB LAX08CA067: Piper PA-44-180, N318PA, Gila Bend, AZ, February 27, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 26, 2008, 17:15 local (Feb 27, 2008, 00:15 UTC) - Place: Gila Bend, AZ - Coordinates: 32.960277, -112.673614 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9603&lon=-112.6736&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 28, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 67586 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX08CA067 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67586/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08CA067 ## Probable cause The flight crew's inadvertent retraction of the landing gear during the landing roll, and the flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the flight. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Flight crew (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-44-180, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=7104402), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: task monitoring/vigilance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-44-180, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md?model=7104402), [All aircraft, 330 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: 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 Prior to landing, the student and the certified flight instructor (CFI) had both confirmed that the landing gear down indicator lights were illuminated, and visually confirmed the nose gear was extended by use of an airframe mirror. The pilots indicated that after touchdown the right wing started to drop, and the CFI took the controls, but the airplane veered off of the runway. Before the pilots left the airplane, they both saw the landing gear activation switch in the retracted position. During the recovery of the airplane, the landing gear was extended, retracted, and then extended again. No damage to the landing gear locking mechanism was found. The safety officer of the flight academy interviewed the flight crew and the recovery personnel. After the interviews, it was determined that during the landing roll, one of the crewmembers inadvertently placed the landing gear selector in the "up" position. ## Factual narrative The flight crew inadvertently retracted the landing gear during the landing rollout. The pilot under instruction (PUI) and the certified flight instructor (CFI) had both confirmed that the landing gear indicator lights were illuminated, and visually confirmed the nose gear was extended by use of the airframe mirror. The pilots indicated that after touchdown the right wing started to drop, and the CFI took the controls but the airplane veered off of the runway. As the pilots secured the airplane, they both observed the landing gear activation switch in the retracted position. During the recovery of the airplane the landing gear was extended, retracted, and then extended again. No damage to the landing gear locking mechanism was observed. The safety officer of the flight academy interviewed the flight crew and the recovery personnel. After the interviews it was determined that during the landing rollout and subsequent take-off roll, one of the crewmembers inadvertently placed the landing gear selector in the "up" position. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N318PA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N318PA), registered now, S/N 4496134, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-44-180 - Registry model: [Piper PA-44-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-44-180) (registry code 7104402) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (registry code 41575, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 4496134 - Airframe hours: 4244 - Engines: Lycoming LO-360-A1H6 180 horsepower reciprocating; Lycoming O-360-A1H6 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Pan Am International Flight Academy - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, February 1, 2008, 13.6 hours before - Departed: DVT, PHOENIX, AZ - Destination: Gila Bend, AZ - Airport: E63, Gila Bend Muni, runway 4, 5,200 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 27; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 1, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 285 total, 120 in this make and model, 146 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days - Flight instructor; age 35; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 1, 2007; seat: right; flight hours: 1,182 total, 241 in this make and model, 1,051 as pilot in command, 211 in the last 90 days, 63 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 2 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: GBN, 6 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 20080226012099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080226012099A), Feb 26, 2008: Piper PA44180, Gila Bend, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) On February 26, 2008, at approximately 1700 MST, N318PA, a Piper PA44-180, experienced a main gear collapse during a touch and go landing at Gila Bend… 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.