N707XA

Substantial
None

DORNIER GMBH ALPHA-JETS/N: 0007

Accident Details

Date
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
NTSB Number
WPR09CA294
Location
Arlington, WA
Event ID
20090618X45204
Coordinates
48.160831, -122.158889
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
None
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
1
Total Aboard
1

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot's failure to lower the landing gear prior to landing. Contributing to the accident were the distractions created by the pilot incorrectly setting a radio frequency and by his fixation on an airplane that was on the runway during his approach.

Aircraft Information

Registration
N707XA
Make
DORNIER GMBH
Serial Number
0007
Engine Type
None
Year Built
1979
Model / ICAO
ALPHA-JETFK9
No. of Engines
0

Registered Owner (Historical)

Name
AIR USA INC
Address
2360 CORPORATE CIR STE 400
Status
Deregistered
City
HENDERSON
State / Zip Code
NV 89074-7739
Country
United States

Analysis

The contract pilot, who was positioning the airplane at the destination airport for minor maintenance, inadvertently set one number incorrectly when he initially set in the common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF). After transmitting his position/intent four times, and hearing no other aircraft on the radio (including one that he saw on the runway), he realized that his frequency was not set correctly. He therefore set in the correct frequency. About the time he was resetting the frequency, he lowered the flaps to full, but inadvertently forgot to lower the landing gear. As he continued on around the pattern, he became "preoccupied" with the aircraft that was on the runway, and did not notice that the gear was not extended. He subsequently landed with the gear retracted, resulting in substantial damage to the belly stringers and bulkheads. The pilot reported that there were no anomalies associated with any of the airplane's systems.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# WPR09CA294