# NTSB NYC05LA056: Piper PA-30, N7547Y, Millville, NJ, January 10, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 10, 2005, 10:45 local (15:45 UTC) - Place: Millville, NJ - Coordinates: 39.367778, -75.072219 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.3678&lon=-75.0722&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 27, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 61124 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC05LA056 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61124/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC05LA056 ## Probable cause The flight instructor's failure to lower the landing gear during 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(cfi) (cause) ## Analysis The private pilot performed an ILS approach to runway 10, and "broke out of the clouds" at 600-700 feet, approximately 1,000 feet down the length of the runway. At that time, the flight instructor said, "let's get out of here," and the private pilot retracted the landing gear and added power for the missed approach. The flight instructor then took the controls and said "he had the airplane," initiating a tight, right hand pattern for runway 28. As the airplane touched down, the flight instructor noted that the landing gear was still retracted. The airplane then landed on its belly, struck both propellers, and skid several hundred feet before coming to rest at the intersection of runway 14-32. After the accident, the landing gear was cycled up and down several times, and no mechanical anomalies were noted. ## Factual narrative On January 10, 2005, at 1045 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-30, N7547Y, was substantially damaged while landing at the Millville Airport (MIV), Millville, New Jersey. The certified flight instructor and certificated private pilot were not injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed for the flight, which originated at the Cape May County (WWD), Wildwood, New Jersey. The instructional flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the private pilot, he was flying the ILS runway 10 approach at Millville; however, during the approach, he was high on the glide slope and left of course. He "broke out of the clouds" at 600-700 feet, and approximately 1,000 feet down the length of the runway. At that time, the flight instructor said, "let's get out of here," and the private pilot retracted the landing gear and added power for the missed approach. The flight instructor then took the controls and said "he had the airplane," initiating a tight, right hand pattern for runway 28. As the airplane touched down, or just prior, the gear warning horn went off and the flight instructor noted that the landing gear was still retracted. The airplane then landed on its belly, struck both propellers, and skid several hundred feet before coming to rest at the intersection of runway 14-32. The private pilot then secured the airplane, and both pilots egressed. In a written statement, the flight instructor stated that during the ILS runway 10 approach, at the outer marker, the final landing check was completed and the gear was lowered. He additionally stated that the private pilot confirmed the gear was down through the illumination of the "green down light," and visual confirmation of the gear down in the mirror located on the left engine cowling. The approach was completed and during the circle to land, the private pilot "must have raised the gear and not remembered." The flight instructor then completed the circling approach, and "landed gear up." The flight instructor did not recall hearing the gear warning horn. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the airplane was jacked up after the accident, the landing gear was lowered, and the airplane was towed to the ramp. The landing gear was then cycled up and down several times, and no mechanical anomalies were noted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7547Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7547Y-2006-02-03), registration cancelled 2006-02-03, S/N 30-610, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-30 - Registry model: [Piper PA-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30) (registry code 7103002) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 30-610 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: SSI Equipment LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: WWD, Wildwood, NJ - Destination: MIV, Millville, NJ - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: MIV, Millville Municipal Airport, runway 28, 6,002 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 69; injuries: none; commercial, private, flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 1, 2004; seat: right; flight hours: 12,259 total, 25 in this make and model, 9,961 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days - Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 1, 2004; seat: rear; flight hours: 481 total, 11 in this make and model, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 6 knots - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 600 ft overcast - Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Observed at: MIV ## 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 20050110032379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050110032379A), Jan 10, 2005: Piper PA30, Millville, NJ, Destroyed. (-23) On January 10, 2005, this inspector was the iic to investigate an incident at Millville airport (miv) new jersey. A Piper PA-30-30, N7547Y, s/n 30-610… ## Other investigations on N7547Y (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 UNK65X1102](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK65X1102), Dec 23, 1964: Piper PA30 (N7547Y), Niagara Falls, NY, 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.