Pilot Debrief

PIPER PA-44-180 near Savoy, IL — 2023-10-24

Final reportCEN24LA026
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Date
2023-10-24
Location
Savoy, IL, USA
Airport
CMI
Aircraft
PIPER PA-44-180
Registration
N5331N
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to extend the landing gear before landing and the flight instructor’s inadequate supervision to ensure that the landing gear was extended.

NTSB narrative

During a multi-engine instructional flight, the flight instructor simulated an engine failure at the final approach fix. The pilot receiving instruction focused on maintaining control of the airplane and neither the pilot nor the flight instructor verified that the landing gear was extended. During the landing, they realized that the landing gear was still retracted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower fuselage. A postaccident examination of the landing gear system by a mechanic revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The instructor stated that there was nothing mechanically wrong with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 4 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents4

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