# NTSB SEA96LA141: Piper PA-24-250, N5246P, Paris, ID, July 2, 1996

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 2, 1996, 10:45 local (16:45 UTC)
- Place: Paris, ID
- Coordinates: 42.219505, -111.429527 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.2195&lon=-111.4295&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 23, 1997
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 42405
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA96LA141
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42405/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA96LA141

## Probable cause

the pilot forgot to extend the landing gear before landing.  Factors relating to the accident were: an interuption of the pilot's habit pattern, when he circled to provide time for another airplane to takeoff as he entered the traffic pattern; and his failure to follow the available checklist.

## Sequence of events

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

- Wheels up landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - checklist - not followed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - gear extension - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
  - habit interference, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

As the pilot was entering the pattern, he made a 360 degree turn to allow time for another aircraft to depart. As he reentered the pattern, he failed to recheck the checklist, which he had on his instrument panel. He continued the pattern, and during touchdown, he realized that he had forgotten to lower the gear.

## Factual narrative

On July 2, 1996, approximately 1045 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-24-250, N5246P, landed wheels-up at Bear Lake County Airport near Paris, Idaho. The airplane was substantially damaged in the landing.  According to the FAA preliminary accident notice, the pilot was on a 14 CFR 91 local pleasure flight. He had departed  Bear Lake County Airport about 15 minutes earlier in order to give some friends a ride around the area. The flight was being conducted in visual meteorological conditions, and no flight plan had been filed. There was no report of an ELT activation.

According to the pilot, he made a 360 degree turn while entering the pattern in order to provide an aircraft that was taxiing out time to depart. When he reentered the pattern, he forgot to "recheck" the checklist that was on his instrument panel. He continued around the pattern, and upon touchdown realized that he had forgotten to lower the gear.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5246P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5246P), registered now, S/N 24-277 (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: 24-277
- Airframe hours: 3488
- Engines: Lycoming O-540-1A1 250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Clair S. Wood
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 8, 1996, 25 hours before
- Departed: 1U7
- Airport: 1U7, Bear Lake County, runway 10, 5,730 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 64; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,600 total, 421 in this make and model, 23 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F

## 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 19960702015849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960702015849A), Jul 2, 1996: Piper PA24250, Paris, ID, Substantial damage. Forgot to check gear down for landing.

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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