# NTSB LAX93LA291: Piper PA-39, N8975Y, Thermal, CA, July 17, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 16, 1993, 19:45 local (Jul 17, 1993, 02:45 UTC) - Place: Thermal, CA - Coordinates: 33.480972, -116.100555 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4810&lon=-116.1006&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 30, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28428 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX93LA291 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28428/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX93LA291 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadvertent movement of the landing gear selector switch to the up position. A factor in the accident was the difference in cockpit switch layout between the PA23 and PA39 aircraft. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Complete gear collapsed, landing - roll - gear retraction - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - acft/equip,inadequate control location, manufacturer (contributing factor) - lack of familiarity with aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot was taking a multi engine class certification check ride. The pilot examiner stated that the applicant pilot had been flying a Piper PA23-160 for his multi engine training. The PA23 cockpit is set up with the landing gear selector handle on the right side of the power quadrant and the flap selector on the left. The PA23 was in the maintenance shop and the applicant was given the Piper PA39 for his flight test. The PA39 cockpit is set up with the landing gear selector handle on the left side of the power quadrant and the flap selector on the right. The examiner stated that during the traffic pattern he personally checked that the landing gear handle was in the DOWN position, with three green indicator lights. The aircraft made a normal landing. The examiner said that during the landing roll out his attention was distracted momentarily by locating the radio microphone. When he looked up again, the examiner saw the aircraft settling down on the runway with the landing gear selector handle in the UP position. According to the pilot's statement, he said that he was reaching for the flap handle to retract the landing flaps and mistakenly moved the gear handle instead. ## Factual narrative On July 16, 1993, at 1945 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA39, N8975Y, sustained a complete landing gear collapse on the landing roll out at Thermal, California. The pilot, who was under going a multi engine land airplane class rating check ride, had intended to retract the flaps, however, moved the landing gear selector handle to the UP position instead. The aircraft was operated by Proflight, Inc., of Las Vegas, Nevada, and was rented by the pilot for the instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the operation. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. The certificated private pilot and the designated pilot examiner were not injured. The flight originated at the Palm Springs, California, airport on the day of the mishap at about 1830 as a local area pilot certification check ride. In a telephone interview, the pilot examiner stated that the applicant pilot had been flying a Piper PA23-160 for his multi engine training. The PA23 cockpit is set up with the landing gear selector handle on the right side of the power quadrant and the flap selector on the left. The PA23 was in the maintenance shop and the applicant was given the Piper PA39 for his flight test. The PA39 cockpit is set up with the landing gear selector handle on the left side of the power quadrant and the flap selector on the right. The examiner stated that during the traffic pattern he personally checked that the landing gear handle was in the DOWN position, with three green indicator lights. The aircraft made a normal landing. The examiner said his attention was distracted momentarily by locating the radio microphone, and, when he looked up again, the aircraft was settling down on the runway with the landing gear selector handle in the UP position. According to the pilot's statement, he said that he was reaching for the flap handle to retract the landing flaps and mistakenly moved the gear handle instead. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8975Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8975Y-2023-02-04), registration cancelled 2023-02-04, S/N 39-141 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-39 - Registry model: [Piper PA-39](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-39) (registry code 7103902) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 39-141 - Airframe hours: 4334 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-320-C1A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Proflight, Inc. - Registered owner: James Hossler & C. Wood - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 5, 1993, 39 hours before - Departed: PSP, PALM SPRINGS, CA - Airport: TRM, Thermal, runway 30, 4,993 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 313 total, 3 in this make and model, 131 as pilot in command, 42 in the last 90 days, 21 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: TRM ## 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 19930716024409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930716024409A), Jul 16, 1993: Piper PA39, Thermal, CA, Substantial damage. 0N multi engine check ride. The pilot examinee. Inadvertently raised gear on landing roll. Examiner did not notice. 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.