Pilot Debrief

PIPER PA24 near Lake Tahoe, CA — 2012-10-21

Final reportWPR13CA021
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Date
2012-10-21
Location
Lake Tahoe, CA, USA
Airport
TVL
Aircraft
PIPER PA24
Registration
N7950P
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to ensure that the landing gear was extended before landing.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he aborted a landing due to traffic on the active runway and retracted the landing gear. He stated that on the second approach to land he carried extra power because of the gusty wind conditions, but during the landing flare, he realized that he had failed to extend the landing gear. After he realized that the landing gear was not extended, the pilot added full power; however, the airplane impacted the runway with the landing gear in the retracted position. The pilot stated that he did not follow the checklist and that he did not hear the landing gear warning horn during his approach. When informed that the throttle position to activate the landing gear warning horn was only about 1/2 inch forward of the full aft idle position, the pilot indicated that he had not retarded the throttle that far. The airplane sustained substantial damage to its undercarriage as a result of the abnormal runway contact.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 3 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents3

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