Summary
On April 10, 2018, a Piper PA34 (N4567T) was involved in an incident near San Diego, CA. 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 receiving instruction and flight instructor’s failure to properly configure the landing gear before landing, which resulted in landing with the landing gear retracted.
The flight instructor reported, while the pilot receiving instruction performed a simulated single-engine approach, he wanted to be able to communicate more easily with the pilot, so he set the simulated failed engine to 15" of manifold pressure; the landing gear warning horn will sound if the manifold pressure is set below 14". He added that he did not verify the gear was down and locked with the three green extended lights illuminated. He reported that, just before landing, he heard the landing gear warning horn, but attributed it to the stall warning horn. The pilot receiving instruction reported that he did not recall hearing any audible alarm.
This incident is documented in NTSB report GAA18CA207. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N4567T.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot receiving instruction and flight instructor’s failure to properly configure the landing gear before landing, which resulted in landing with the landing gear retracted.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
The flight instructor reported, while the pilot receiving instruction performed a simulated single-engine approach, he wanted to be able to communicate more easily with the pilot, so he set the simulated failed engine to 15" of manifold pressure; the landing gear warning horn will sound if the manifold pressure is set below 14". He added that he did not verify the gear was down and locked with the three green extended lights illuminated. He reported that, just before landing, he heard the landing gear warning horn, but attributed it to the stall warning horn. The pilot receiving instruction reported that he did not recall hearing any audible alarm. The airplane landed with the gear retracted.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engines.
The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# GAA18CA207