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CEN23LA253

2023-06-10 · Watkins, Colorado, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport CFO

Current FAA registration · N6886P

Make / Model
PIPER PA-24-250
Year of manufacture
1960 · 63 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING 0-540 SERIES (250 hp)
Seats / Engines
4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19600526
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A92427

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s failure to extend the landing gear before landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to utilize the prelanding checklist to ensure the landing gear was extended before landing.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that shortly before touchdown he noticed the landing gear selector still in the up position. The pilot moved the selector to the down position, but the landing gear were unable to fully extend before touchdown. The bottom of the fuselage was substantially damage during the wheels-up landing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Additionally, the pilot reported he did not use a prelanding checklist to ensure that the landing was extended before touchdown. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • — Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Use of equip/system-Pilot
  • — Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Forgotten action/omission-Pilot
  • — Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Use of checklist-Pilot

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2023_CEN23LA253.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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