Summary
On March 20, 2000, a Piper PA-31-T1 (N5WC) was involved in an incident near Scottsdale, AZ. All 2 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot's failure to ensure that the landing gear was lowered before touchdown.
On March 19, 2000, at 1945 hours mountain standard time, a Piper PA-31-T1, N5WC, landed gear up at the Scottsdale, Arizona, airport. The airplane, operated by Gunslinger Investment Corporation, Telluride, Colorado, sustained substantial damage. The airline transport pilot and passenger were not injured. The personal cross-country flight had originated in Telluride, Colorado, at 1815, and was terminating at the time of the accident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed.
The pilot reported that while landing on runway 21, he felt the rudder pedals vibrating. The airplane settled and he heard the propellers striking the runway. The airplane veered to the right off the runway centerline and struck a runway light.
This incident is documented in NTSB report LAX00LA131. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N5WC.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's failure to ensure that the landing gear was lowered before touchdown.
Aircraft Information
Analysis
On March 19, 2000, at 1945 hours mountain standard time, a Piper PA-31-T1, N5WC, landed gear up at the Scottsdale, Arizona, airport. The airplane, operated by Gunslinger Investment Corporation, Telluride, Colorado, sustained substantial damage. The airline transport pilot and passenger were not injured. The personal cross-country flight had originated in Telluride, Colorado, at 1815, and was terminating at the time of the accident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed.
The pilot reported that while landing on runway 21, he felt the rudder pedals vibrating. The airplane settled and he heard the propellers striking the runway. The airplane veered to the right off the runway centerline and struck a runway light. The pressure bulkhead was punctured and there was damage to the right engine air scoop cowling, the right wing leading edge, the flaps, gear doors, bottom antennas, pitot tube, and right spinner.
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector from the Scottsdale Flight Standards District Office responded to the site. He reported that on March 23, 2000, he witnessed the landing gear being swung at the Scottsdale airport. He stated that no discrepancies were noted during the test. The landing gear light and horn systems functioned normally.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# LAX00LA131