NTSB ERA22LA259 — 2022-06-04 · Spencer, Virginia, United States

Current FAA registration · N8429X

Make / Model: PIPER PA-32R-301
Year of manufacture: 1981 · 41 years old at event
Engine: LYCOMING IO-540 SER (300 hp)
Seats / Engines: 7 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date: 19810708
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S AB8AF0

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N8429X Piper PA-32R-301 None

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s failure to extend the landing gear before landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to use the landing checklist.

Factual narrative

The pilot stated he was flying to another airport for lunch, and as he approached the airport, he was looking around for other airplanes in the traffic pattern and “just forgot” to extend the landing gear. He further stated he did not use the landing checklist. He subsequently landed the airplane with the landing gear retracted, which resulted in substantial damage to the lower fuselage longerons. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

— Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Forgotten action/omission-Pilot
— Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Use of checklist-Pilot
— Aircraft-Aircraft systems-Landing gear system-Gear extension and retract sys-Not used/operated

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2022_ERA22LA259.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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