# NTSB WPR17LA217: Piper PA-24-260, N9020P, Los Angeles, CA, September 26, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 26, 2017, 16:38 local (23:38 UTC) - Place: Los Angeles, CA - Coordinates: 34.259445, -118.41333 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2594&lon=-118.4133&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 28, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 96180 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR17LA217 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96180/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96180 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17LA217 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to extend the landing gear before landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-260, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=7102406), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md) - [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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: 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) ## Analysis The pilot was concluding a personal flight. He stated that he lowered the landing gear while preparing to land and felt the airplane's drag increase; however, he could not remember if he got confirmation that the landing gear were down and locked from the indicator light in the cockpit. He stated that the landing flare was normal but that as the airplane continued the landing roll, all three landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained structural damage to the fuselage. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that all the landing gear were in the gear wells. The main landing gear doors were not damaged and only the nose landing gear door had light scratches, which is likely due to the landing gear being in the retracted position as the airplane touched down on the runway. A landing gear swing was accomplished, and no mechanical malfunctions or failures were revealed that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On September 26, 2017, at 1638 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-24-260 airplane, N9020P, sustained substantial damage during landing at Whiteman Airport, Los Angeles, California. The private pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and no flight plan had been filed for the flight which departed from Camarillo, California about 1600. The pilot reported that he lowered the landing gear while preparing to land on runway 12. He stated that after lowering the gear, he felt the airplane's drag increase but could not remember if he got a confirmation they were down and locked from the indicator light. He further stated the landing flare was normal and the airplane touched down on the main landing gear. Thereafter, the nose gear settled toward the runway and as the airplane continued on the landing roll, all three gear collapsed. The airplane incurred structural damage to the fuselage. A Federal Aviation Administration certified mechanic examined the airplane after the accident. He stated that all three landing gear were in the gear wells. The main landing gear doors were not damaged and only the nose landing gear door had light scratches, which he thought was consistent with the landing gear being retracted at the time of impact. After recovering the airplane, the mechanic swung the landing gear and performed an examination. He found no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have prevented normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9020P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9020P), registered now, S/N 24-4482, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24-260 - Registry model: [Piper PA-24-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-260) (registry code 7102406) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 4482 - Year built: 1966 - Airframe hours: 2702 - Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540-O4A5 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 10, 2017 - Departed: CMA, CAMARILLO, CA - Destination: WHP, Los Angeles, CA - Airport: WHP, Whiteman Airport, runway 12, 4,120 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 664 total, 56 in this make and model, 467 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 29.80 inHg - Turbulence: Light - Observed at: KWHP ## 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 20170926024459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170926024459A), Sep 26, 2017: Piper PA-24-260, Pacoima, CA, Substantial damage. Aircraft cleared to land at Whiteman Airport (kwhp), Pacoima, CA. After landing rollout, approximately 150 ft after touching down, all aircraft landing gear… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 3, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96180. 1.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480449&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Records of Conversations (item 2, .PDF, 139 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480450&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Records%20of%20Conversations-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.