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April 30, 2016 · Piper PA 31P Undesignat · N192CS

Killeen, TX

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 30, 2016
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Killeen, TX
Aircraft
Piper PA 31P Undesignat (1973)
Tail Number
N192CS
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CEN16LA189

The pilot had departed on the business flight but decided to return to the airport to wait for the weather to improve. He indicated that, on approach, he lowered the flaps to 15° to slow the airplane to within "gear down speed." The pilot noticed that the flaps continued past 15°, and he took his hand off the landing gear lever and raised the flaps back up to the fully retracted position. The pilot overshot the runway on the turn to final. As he attempted to align the airplane with the runway centerline, he heard a warning horn, which he thought was the stall warning horn. He then landed on the runway with the landing gear retracted, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage frame and stringers. After the accident, the pilot stated he had mistaken the gear-up warning horn for the stall warning horn. The pilot also said he did not visually check the landing gear indicator lights or look at the mirrors to verify the landing gear was down.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot’s failure to extend the landing gear due to his distraction with the flaps, his misinterpretation of the landing gear warning horn, and his failure to verify that the landing gear were down, which resulted in a landing with the gear retracted.

Full Narrative

On April 30, 2016, about 0930 central daylight time (CDT), a Piper PA-31 airplane, N192CS, landed with its gear retracted at Skylark Field Airport (KILE), Killeen, Texas. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage frame and stringers. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane was registered to Bunkie Bird, LLC and was operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a business flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, and no instrument flight rules flight plan was filed. According to the pilot, the weather reported on the automated terminal information system stated that there were 1,200 ft ceilings. However, when he took off he noticed "considerable weather" along his intended route of flight . He contacted approach control and stated that he wanted to return to his departure airport to "wait out the weather." On approach, the pilot lowered the flaps to 15° to slow the airplane to within "gear down speed." He noticed that the flaps continued past 15° and he took his hand off the landing gear lever and raised the flaps back up to the fully retracted position. The pilot had overshot the runway on his turn to final. As he attempted to align the airplane with the runway centerline he heard a warning horn and thought it was the stall warning horn. He then landed on the runway with the landing gear retracted. After the accident, the pilot stated he had mistaken the gear up warning horn for the stall warning horn. The pilot also said he did not visually check the landing gear indicator lights or look at the mirrors to verify the landing gear was down.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time09:30 CDT
Nearest AirportSkylark Field (0nm N)
Runway01
Runway Length5495 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA 31P Undesignat
Tail NumberN192CS
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · TIGO-541SER · Reciprocating · 400 | Lycoming · TIGO-541SER · Reciprocating · 400
Seats8

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 61 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind330° @ 11 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingOvercast 1300 ft
Temperature / Dew Point63 F / 61 F
Altimeter29.79 inHg
Observation Time13:56

Appendix: Source Data