# NTSB NYC08CA073: Piper PA-31T, N112ED, Muscle Shoals, AL, December 13, 2007

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: December 12, 2007, 19:29 local (Dec 13, 2007, 01:29 UTC)
- Place: Muscle Shoals, AL
- Coordinates: 34.745277, -87.610275
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7453&lon=-87.6103&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 28, 2008
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 67336
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC08CA073
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67336/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC08CA073

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to lower the landing gear.

## 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

While conducting an instrument approach, the pilot of a Piper PA-31T crossed the initial approach fix and descended to 2,300 feet, per the instrument approach procedure.  Upon reaching the final approach fix, he then selected 1,200 feet in the altitude preselect and almost simultaneously visually acquired the runway and visual approach slope indicator.  The pilot then "became distracted," and" forgot to extend the [landing] gear."  He then fully extended the wing flaps, but the power setting remained above the "trigger point" for the landing gear warning horn.  The airplane touched down with the landing gear retracted and was substantially damaged.

## Factual narrative

While conducting an instrument approach, the pilot of a Piper PA-31T crossed the initial approach fix and descended to 2,300 feet, per the instrument approach procedure.  Upon reaching the final approach fix, he then selected 1,200 feet in the altitude preselect and almost simultaneously visually acquired the runway and visual approach slope indicator.  The pilot then "became distracted," and" forgot to extend the [landing] gear."  He then fully extended the wing flaps, but the power setting remained above the "trigger point" for the landing gear warning horn.  The airplane touched down with the landing gear retracted and was substantially damaged.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N112ED](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N112ED-2013-06-04), registration cancelled 2013-06-04, S/N 31T-8020060, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Piper PA-31T
- Registry model: [Piper PA-31T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31t) (registry code 7103124) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-60A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-60a) (registry code 52043, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 31T-8020060
- Airframe hours: 2823.4
- Engines: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-28 620 horsepower turbo prop; Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-28 620 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Darby Aviation, doing business as Alpha Jet International
- Registered owner: E. H. Darby DBA
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, December 1, 2007
- Departed: FTW, Fort Worth, TX
- Destination: MSL, Muscle Shoals, AL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: MLS, Muscle Shoals, runway 11, 6,693 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 1, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 10,127 total, 1,500 in this make and model, 8,768 as pilot in command, 79 in the last 90 days, 37 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 340° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 30.21 inHg
- Observed at: MSL

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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