# NTSB MIA87LA059: Piper PA-44, N2197X, Key West, FL, December 26, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 26, 1986, 09:06 local (14:06 UTC)
- Place: Key West, FL
- Coordinates: 24.550191, -81.780624 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=24.5502&lon=-81.7806&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31842
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA87LA059
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31842/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA87LA059

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - electrical system - loss,total (contributing factor)
  - electrical system,battery - exhaustion (contributing factor)
  - gear extension - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - gear down and locked - not obtained, pilot in command (cause)
  - emergency procedure - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
  - wheels up landing - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF ON AN IFR FLT, THE FLT LOST ALL ELECTRICAL POWER WHILE IN VFR CONDITIONS. THE FLT RETURNED TO THE ARPT AND THE PLT COMPLETED THE PRE-LANDING CHECKLIST PLACING THE GEAR HANDLE IN THE DOWN POSITION. THE GEAR, BEING ELECTRICALLY OPERATED, DID NOT EXTEND AND THE ACFT LANDED GEAR UP. THE PLT STATED THAT AT THE LAST MOMENT DURING THE FLARE, HE REMEMBERED THE GEAR WAS ELECTRICALLY DRIVEN AND ATTEMPTED TO EXTEND IT BY THE EMERGENCY METHOD, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO IN TIME. AN EXAM OF THE BATTERY REVEALED THAT IT WAS IN A DISCHARGED CONDITION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N2197X (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-44
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 44-7995277
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-E1A6D 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Gordon B. Champagne
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 10, 1986
- Departed: EYW, KEY WEST, FL
- Destination: SRQ, SARASOTA, FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: EYW, Key West International, runway 9, 4,800 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, expired; seat: left; flight hours: 1,423 total, 749 in this make and model, 1,328 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 20° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: EYW

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 19861226072399I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19861226072399I), Dec 26, 1986: Piper PA44180, Key West, FL, Minor damage. After complete electrical failure pilot failed to check gear position after selecting down. Landed gear up.

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.

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