Casualties unknown

Landing Gear Retraction During Rollout After Landing (N5406P)

Kutztown, PA, US

On November 25, 2003, a Piper PA-24-250 (registration N5406P) was involved in an aviation accident near Kutztown, PA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's inadvertent retraction of the landing gear on the ground. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-06-10Data APIEditorial standards

During post-landing rollout, a pilot retracted the landing gear after raising flaps, causing the airplane to settle onto the runway. The pilot did not recall operating the gear lever.

Incident Details

During the rollout after landing, the pilot turned off the landing lights, turned off the fuel pump, and raised the flaps. Subsequently, the landing gear retracted, and the airplane settled onto the ground. The pilot did not recall if he raised the landing gear selector lever and did not check its position after the accident.

Aftermath

After the accident, the pilot had the airplane removed from the runway and placed into a hangar. Approximately three months later, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector conducting routine surveillance at the airport discovered the airplane in the hangar.

Investigation

The investigation focused on the sequence of events during rollout. The pilot's actions included turning off the landing lights and fuel pump and raising the flaps, followed by the gear retraction. The pilot's lack of recall regarding the gear selector lever position led to uncertainty about the cause of the retraction.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20040319X00347. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.