On December 13, 2007, a Piper PA-31T (registration N112ED) operated by Darby Aviation was involved in an aviation accident near Muscle Shoals, AL. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot became distracted and forgot to extend the landing gear. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During an instrument approach, a Piper PA-31T pilot forgot to extend the landing gear after becoming distracted, resulting in a gear-up landing and substantial damage.
Incident Overview
A Piper PA-31T was conducting an instrument approach when the pilot crossed the initial approach fix and descended to 2,300 feet per the instrument approach procedure. Upon reaching the final approach fix, the pilot selected 1,200 feet in the altitude preselect and almost simultaneously visually acquired the runway and visual approach slope indicator.
Pilot Actions
The pilot then became distracted and forgot to extend the landing gear. He fully extended the wing flaps, but the power setting remained above the trigger point for the landing gear warning horn. The airplane touched down with the landing gear retracted.
Damage
The aircraft sustained substantial damage as a result of the gear-up landing.
Probable cause
The pilot became distracted and forgot to extend the landing gear.