# NTSB WPR12CA435: Piper PA24, N8648P, Madera, CA, September 20, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 20, 2012, 14:15 local (21:15 UTC) - Place: Madera, CA - Coordinates: 37.988609, -120.112503 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.9886&lon=-120.1125&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 19, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 85137 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR12CA435 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85137/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85137 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12CA435 ## Probable cause The student's and flight instructor’s failure to ensure that the landing gear was extended prior to landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023200): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not used/operated (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-260, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023200/cases.md?model=7102406), [All aircraft, 113 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023200/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-260, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=7102406), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-260, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=7102406), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-260, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md?model=7102406), [All aircraft, 200 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-260, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=7102406), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) - [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-260, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=7102406), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis The accident occurred during an instructional flight while practicing landings. The flight instructor reported that he became distracted while teaching his student and forgot to ensure that the landing gear was extended before landing. He stated that the landing gear warning horn came on just before the airplane landed gear up, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage structure. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The accident occurred during an instructional flight while practicing landings. The flight instructor reported that he became distracted while teaching his student and forgot to ensure that the landing gear was extended before landing. He stated that the landing gear warning horn came on just before the airplane landed gear up, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage structure. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8648P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8648P), registered now, S/N 24-4091, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA24 (260) - Registry model: [Piper PA-24-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-260) (registry code 7102406) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-4091 - Airframe hours: 4317 - Engines: LYCOMING IO540 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Chester Dee McCarter - Registered owner: Chester Dee McCarter - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 2, 2012 - Departed: FCH, Fresno, CA - Destination: MAE, Madera, CA - Airport: MAE, Madera Municipal, runway 30, 5,545 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 75; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 16, 2012; seat: right; flight hours: 6,150 total, 300 in this make and model, 4,253 as pilot in command, 92 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; last flight review May 15, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 2,100 total, 950 in this make and model, 1,900 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: MAE ## 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 20120920021689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120920021689A), Sep 20, 2012: Piper PA-24-260, Madera, CA, Substantial damage. During an instructional flight the pilot reported that he became distracted by radio and intercomm problems and neglected to lower the landing gear. The… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 31, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85137. 3.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40379214&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Data (item 2, .PDF, 262 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40379215&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Data-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.