# NTSB WPR23LA332: Piper PA-34-200T, N440DM, Coolidge, AZ, September 1, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 1, 2023, 13:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Coolidge, AZ - Coordinates: 32.936024, -111.42647 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9360&lon=-111.4265&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 193008 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA332 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193008/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193008 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA332 ## 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-34-200T, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=7103406), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200T, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=7103406), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of checklist](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200T, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md?model=7103406), [All aircraft, 336 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: attention](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200T, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md?model=7103406), [All aircraft, 226 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200T, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=7103406), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during a simulated instrument approach he forgot to extend the airplane’s landing gear. The airplane subsequently touched down on the runway and the fuselage and wings were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N440DM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N440DM), registered now, S/N 34-7670040, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-34-200T - Registry model: [Piper PA-34-200T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-200t) (registry code 7103406) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (registry code 17019, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 34-7670040 - Year built: 1975 - Airframe hours: 3847.3 - Engines: Continental LTSIO360EB11 200 hp reciprocating; Continental TSIO360EB1 200 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 11, 2023 - Departed: KFFZ, Mesa, AZ - Destination: P08, Coolidge, AZ - Airport: P08, Coolidge Municipal Airport, runway 23, 5,564 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 0 total, 0 in this make and model - Pilot-rated passenger; age 31; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, waiver time limited special; last flight review May 8, 2022; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 918.1 total, 8.6 in this make and model, 781.3 as pilot in command, 151.3 in the last 90 days, 37.1 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: KP08 - METAR: KP08 011955Z AUTO 23009KT 10SM CLR 29/20 A3001 RMK AO2 ## 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 20230901014899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230901014899A), Sep 1, 2023: Piper PA-34-200T, Coolidge, AZ, Substantial damage. There were two certificated pilots in this aircraft at the time of this accident. Both the PIC and safety pilot had low flight time in this make and model of… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 4, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193008. 10.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 13 pages, 9.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16462734&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20N440DM_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 854 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16462909&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N440DM%20Photographs-Rel.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.