DEN08LA012

Factual narrative

On October 9, 2007, at 0813 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-31-350, N313RA, operated by Key Lime Air, Inc., (KY7A) and piloted by a commercial pilot, was substantially damaged when it landed wheels up at Perry Stokes Airport (TAD), Trinidad, Colorado. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The non-scheduled domestic cargo flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 135, and an instrument flight rulers (IFR) flight plan had been filed. The pilot, the sole occupant aboard, was not injured. The cross-country flight originated at Lamar Municipal Airport (LAA), Lamar, Colorado, approximately 0740, and was en route to TAD. According to the operator's accident report, the pilot failed to extend the landing gear, resulting in substantial damage to the bottom of the fuselage. "[The] pilot freely admits to forgetting to extend gear," the report said. Photographs of the airplane reveal the fuselage skin to be gone, exposing several compromised bulkheads. The pilot failed to extend the landing gear, resulting in substantial damage to the bottom of the fuselage. The operator noted, "[The] pilot freely admits to forgetting to extend gear." the report said. Photographs of the airplane reveal the fuselage skin to be gone, exposing several compromised bulkheads. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12