Saturday, November 27, 2021

Landing Gear Not Configured: Piper PA-34-200T, N8011F; accident occurred August 08, 2021 at Navasota Municipal Airport (60R), Grimes County, Texas





Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Houston, Texas

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:


Location: Navasota, Texas
Accident Number: CEN21LA366
Date and Time: August 8, 2021, 15:40 Local
Registration: N8011F
Aircraft: Piper PA-34-200T 
Aircraft Damage: Unknown
Defining Event: Landing gear not configured 
Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Instructional

Analysis

The flight instructor reported that while in the traffic pattern for landing, he and the student became distracted while trying to avoid another aircraft and they failed to extend the landing gear before landing. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The flight instructor stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot’s failure to extend the landing gear before landing.

Findings

Personnel issues Forgotten action/omission - Pilot
Personnel issues Use of equip/system - Pilot
Aircraft Gear extension and retract sys - Not used/operated
Personnel issues Delayed action - Instructor/check pilot
Personnel issues Monitoring other person - Instructor/check pilot

Factual Information

History of Flight

Landing-flare/touchdown Landing gear not configured (Defining event)

Pilot Information

Certificate: Airline transport 
Age: 30, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land; Multi-engine land
Seat Occupied: Right
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None 
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane 
Second Pilot Present:
Instructor Rating(s): Airplane multi-engine; Airplane single-engine; Instrument airplane
Toxicology Performed:
Medical Certification: Class 1 With waivers/limitations 
Last FAA Medical Exam: March 1, 2021
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time:

Student pilot Information

Certificate: Commercial 
Age: 20, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land 
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): 
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane 
Second Pilot Present:
Instructor Rating(s): 
Toxicology Performed:
Medical Certification: Class 1 Without waivers/limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: December 1, 2016
Occupational Pilot: No 
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time:

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Piper
Registration: N8011F
Model/Series: PA-34-200T
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1976 
Amateur Built:
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal 
Serial Number: 34-7770080
Landing Gear Type: Retractable - Tricycle
Seats: 7
Date/Type of Last Inspection: Unknown 
Certified Max Gross Wt.:
Time Since Last Inspection: 
Engines: 2 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 
Engine Manufacturer: Continental
ELT:
Engine Model/Series: TSIO-360
Registered Owner: 
Rated Power:
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual (VMC)
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KCLL, 328 ft msl 
Distance from Accident Site: 18 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 14:53 Local 
Direction from Accident Site: 315°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Few / 5500 ft AGL
Visibility: 10 miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 9 knots / 
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:  /
Wind Direction: 190°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:  /
Altimeter Setting: 29.96 inches Hg 
Temperature/Dew Point: 34°C / 22°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Navasota, TX 
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Navasota, TX 
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time:
Type of Airspace: Unknown

Airport Information

Airport: NAVASOTA MUNI 60R 
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 229 ft msl 
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 17/35
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 5003 ft / 75 ft 
VFR Approach/Landing: Full stop

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 2 None
Aircraft Damage: Unknown
Passenger Injuries:
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: 
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 None
Latitude, Longitude: 30.373155,-96.113308

1 comment:

  1. Just another classic example of a distraction causing a human error event. The final responsibility was on the instructor to be sure, but the student was the PIC here. That said, I'd be tracking down that jackhole gyrocopter hack who cut in the pattern and give him a mouth full of colorful words.

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