# NTSB NYC02LA072: Piper PA-24-260, N9055P, Atlantic City, NJ, February 23, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 23, 2002, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Atlantic City, NJ - Coordinates: 39.359104, -74.419174 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.3591&lon=-74.4192&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 28, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 54366 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC02LA072 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54366/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54366 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC02LA072 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to lower the landing gear prior to landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Wheels up landing, landing - flare/touchdown - wheels up landing - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot completed the departure, en route, and descent portions of the VFR flight without incident. After entering the traffic pattern, he turned final, and announced his intentions. The pilot then saw an airplane holding short for the same runway he was using, so he made another announcement. When the pilot was approximately 100 to 150 feet agl, the airplane holding short pulled onto the runway. The pilot executed a go-around, retracted the flaps and landing gear, and then executed a left 360-degree turn, placing the airplane back on final. The pilot recalled the airplane touching down, and believes the landing gear retracted during the ground roll. The airplane slid approximately 100 feet before coming to a stop. After the accident, the pilot realized the landing gear switch was in the up position. Examination of the airplane revealed no damage to the landing gear doors, or side scuffing on either tire. In addition, no preimpact failures were identified with the squat switch, the safe gear indication system, or the landing gear horn. ## Factual narrative On February 23, 2002, about 1600 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-24-260, N9055P, was substantially damaged while landing at the Atlantic City Municipal/Bader Field (AIY), Atlantic City, New Jersey. The certificated private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight that departed Winchester, Virginia, destined for Bader Field. A visual flight rules flight plan was filed, and the flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, once in the local area he contacted Atlantic City Approach, and then changed over to Bader Field's common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF). He saw two helicopters circling over a submerged airplane that had just ran off the end of the runway at Bader Field and into the water. After entering the traffic pattern, the pilot turned final for runway 11, and announced his intentions. He then saw an airplane holding short for the same runway he was planning on using, so he made another announcement. When the pilot was approximately 100 to 150 feet agl, the airplane holding short pulled onto the runway. The pilot executed a go-around. He retracted the flaps and landing gear, and then did a left 360-degree turn, placing the airplane back on final. The airplane touched down and started to roll out. When it was approximately 200 feet from the end of the runway, the landing gear retracted, and the airplane slid approximately 100 feet before coming to a stop. After the accident, the pilot realized the landing gear switch was in the up position. He believed he raised the gear inadvertently during roll out, but did not remember doing it. He was sure he landed with the gear down, but added, "If the gear retracted while on the ground, the gear doors should have been damaged or scratched," which they were not. According to a mechanic that examined the airplane, there was no damage to the landing gear doors, or side scuffing on either tire. In addition, no damage was observed on either flap. The airplane was raised in order to lower the landing gear. The gear was extended, and locked in the down position. A crack was identified in the landing gear actuator. It did not affect the down locks, and the mechanic thought it was caused when the airplane was recovered. The keel of the airplane was partially worn down, and the engine exhaust was worn consistent with sliding on a hard surface. The airplane was ferried to a facility near Montgomery, New York, where the mechanic examined the squat switch, the safe gear indication system, and the landing gear horn. He identified no anomalies with any of the systems. The mechanic added that he tested the squat switch by breaking into the wire bundle where it entered the fuselage. He did this to insure none of the wires had broken where the wire bundle flexed to accommodate landing gear retraction and extension. According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, a antenna on the bottom of the airplane pushed into the fuselage and damaged a former, requiring a major repair. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9055P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9055P), registered now, S/N 24-4521, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-24-260 - Registry model: [Piper PA-24-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-260) (registry code 7102406) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-4521 - Airframe hours: 5850 - Engines: Lycoming TIO-540 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Mike Piazza - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 24, 2001, 100 hours before - Departed: OKV, Winchester, VA - Destination: AIY, Atlantic City, NJ - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: AIY, Atlantic City Muni/Bader Field, runway 11, 2,948 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 334 total, 223 in this make and model, 226 as pilot in command, 46 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: ACY, 8 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 20020223018249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020223018249A), Feb 23, 2002: Piper PA24260, Atlantic City, NJ, No damage. (-23) Witnesses confirm that after a normal landing, as the aircraft turned to exit the active runway, the landing gear collapsed. Further investigation… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 5, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54366. 714 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2 (item 1, .PDF, 408 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40389570&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%2F2-Redacted.PDF - Memorandums for Record (item 2, .PDF, 226 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40157584&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandums%20for%20Record-Master.PDF - Post-Accident Photograph of Airplane (item 3, .PDF, 79 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40157585&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Post-Accident%20Photograph%20of%20Airplane-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.