On April 24, 1983, a Piper PA-24 (registration N9254P) operated by Emanuel Crese was involved in an aviation accident near Champaign, IL. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The landing gear circuit breaker opening, which disabled the warning horn and prevented the pilot from being alerted to the retracted gear position. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
An aircraft landed with its gear up because the warning horn failed to sound. Investigation found the landing gear mechanism was functional, but a popped circuit breaker disabled the audible alert system.
What happened
The aircraft touched down on the runway with the landing gear retracted. Following the event, investigators examined the aircraft systems to determine why the gear did not extend or lock properly during the approach and landing phase.
The investigation
Mechanical inspection of the landing gear system revealed no malfunction that would have prevented normal operation. A specific retraction test confirmed that the mechanical components functioned as designed. However, electrical diagnostics showed that the warning horn failed to operate when it should have.
Upon checking the cockpit prior to removing the aircraft from the runway, investigators discovered that the landing gear circuit breaker had popped. This electrical failure prevented the warning system from alerting the pilot to the unsafe gear configuration.
Probable cause
The landing gear circuit breaker opening, which disabled the warning horn and prevented the pilot from being alerted to the retracted gear position.
What happened in the 24 Apr 1983 Piper PA-24 accident near Champaign, IL?
An aircraft landed with its gear up because the warning horn failed to sound. Investigation found the landing gear mechanism was functional, but a popped circuit breaker disabled the audible alert system.
What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?
The accident on 24 Apr 1983 involved a Piper PA-24, registration N9254P, operated by Emanuel Crese, at Champaign, IL.
What was the probable cause of the accident?
The landing gear circuit breaker opening, which disabled the warning horn and prevented the pilot from being alerted to the retracted gear position.
A SkyWalk Join't 3 paraglider crashed into the ground near Las Vizcachas, Chile, on September 1, 2024. The pilot and passenger sustained serious spinal…
PARAPENTE (ULTRALIVIANO NO MOTORIZADO)·2024-09-01DGAC Chile
A Cessna 172N struck electrical cables while on final approach to land at Aucó Aerodrome in Chile. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained damage…
A Bombardier DHC-8-402 suffered a tail strike during landing at Puerto Williams on September 9, 2024. All 76 occupants were unharmed, but the aircraft…
A MYD JS-MD 3 glider veered off the runway and struck a wall at Vitacura Aerodrome on January 6, 2025. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained…
A recreational paraglider flight in Puchuncaví, Chile, ended with the pilot sustaining serious injuries after a rapid descent and impact with a hillside on…
PARAPENTE (ULTRALIVIANO NO MOTORIZADO)·2025-03-29DGAC Chile
A Tecnam P2006T landed on its belly at an aerodrome in Poland after the crew failed to confirm landing gear deployment. The incident resulted in no injuries…