Piper PA-44-180
Gila Bend, AZ — February 27, 2008
Event Information
| Date | February 27, 2008 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | LAX08CA067 |
| Event ID | 20080430X00565 |
| Location | Gila Bend, AZ |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 32.96028, -112.67361 |
| Airport | GILA BEND MUNI |
| Highest Injury | NONE |
Aircraft
| Make | Piper |
| Model | PA-44-180 |
| Category | AIR |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 2 |
| Total Injured | 0 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The flight crew's inadvertent retraction of the landing gear during the landing roll, and the flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the flight.
Full Narrative
The flight crew inadvertently retracted the landing gear during the landing rollout. The pilot under instruction (PUI) and the certified flight instructor (CFI) had both confirmed that the landing gear indicator lights were illuminated, and visually confirmed the nose gear was extended by use of the airframe mirror. The pilots indicated that after touchdown the right wing started to drop, and the CFI took the controls but the airplane veered off of the runway. As the pilots secured the airplane, they both observed the landing gear activation switch in the retracted position. During the recovery of the airplane the landing gear was extended, retracted, and then extended again. No damage to the landing gear locking mechanism was observed. The safety officer of the flight academy interviewed the flight crew and the recovery personnel. After the interviews it was determined that during the landing rollout and subsequent take-off roll, one of the crewmembers inadvertently placed the landing gear selector in the "up" position.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.