# NTSB NYC04LA086: Piper PA-24-250, N5406P, Kutztown, PA, November 25, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 25, 2003, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Kutztown, PA - Coordinates: 40.503334, -75.786941 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5033&lon=-75.7869&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 24, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 58882 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC04LA086 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58882/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC04LA086 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadvertent retraction of the landing gear on the ground. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Gear retraction on ground, landing - roll - gear retraction - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis During the rollout after landing, the pilot turned off the landing lights, turned off the fuel pump, and after raising the flaps, the landing gear retracted and the airplane settled on to the ground. The pilot did not recall if he raised the landing gear selector lever, and did not check its position after the accident. After the accident, the pilot had the airplane removed from the runway and placed into a hangar, where it was discovered about 3 months later by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector conducting routine surveillance at the airport. ## Factual narrative On November 25, 2003, about 1600 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-24-250, N5406P, was substantially damaged while landing at the Kutztown Airport (N31), Kutztown, Pennsylvania. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, after landing on runway 28, a 2,221-foot long asphalt runway, during the rollout, he turned off the landing lights, turned off the fuel pump, and after raising the flaps, the landing gear retracted and the airplane settled on to the ground. The pilot did not recall if he raised the landing gear selector lever, and did not check its position after the accident. After the accident, the pilot had the airplane removed from the runway and placed into a hangar, where it was discovered about 3 months later by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector conducting routine surveillance at the airport. Examination of the wreckage by the FAA inspector revealed substantial damage to the fuselage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5406P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5406P), registered now, S/N 24-460, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-24-250 - Registry model: [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (registry code 7102404) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-460 - Airframe hours: 4261 - Engines: Lycoming O-540 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Transportation Skills Programs Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 17, 2002, 6 hours before - Departed: N31, Kutztown, PA - Destination: N31 - Airport: N31, Kutztown Airport, runway 35, 2,485 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review May 8, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 1,505 total, 808 in this make and model, 1,345 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: RDG ## 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 20031125036609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031125036609A), Nov 25, 2003: Piper PA24250, Kutztown, PA, Substantial damage. (-23) According to the pilot, while landing on runway 28, he extended the landing gear at the last minute, touching down with the landing gear at its mid-point… ## Other investigations on N5406P (1) 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. - [NTSB UNK64X1349](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK64X1349), Apr 17, 1964: Piper PA24 (N5406P), Allentown, PA, substantial damage 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.