NTSB ERA24LA034 — 2023-11-08 · Florala, Alabama, United States

Current FAA registration · N100VF

Make / Model: PIPER PA-32R-300
Year of manufacture: 1977 · 46 years old at event
Engine: LYCOMING TI0-540 SER (310 hp)
Seats / Engines: 7 seats · 1 engine
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S A00695

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N100VF Piper PA32R None

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s failure to extend the landing gear before landing. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s inadequate supervision of the flight.

Factual narrative

The pilot stated that he was performing a short-field landing as part of a flight review and because he was focused on his intended point of touchdown, airspeed, flap position, and clearing the “simulated 50 ft obstacle,” he was distracted from the normal landing procedure. Immediately before touchdown, the airplane’s landing gear warning horn sounded, and the landing was completed with the landing gear fully retracted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have prevented normal landing gear extension. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

— Aircraft-Aircraft systems-Landing gear system-Gear extension and retract sys-Not used/operated
— Personnel issues-Psychological-Attention/monitoring-(general)-Instructor/check pilot
— Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Use of equip/system-Pilot
— Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Forgotten action/omission-Pilot

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2023_ERA24LA034.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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