No fatalities

12 Sep 2010: PIPER PA46-310P — AVIONTA LLC — Farmington, NM

Farmington, NM, United States

On 12 Sep 2010, a PIPER PA46-310P operated by AVIONTA LLC was involved in an aviation accident near Farmington, NM. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot’s premature retraction of the landing gear and the flaps during landing. Contributing to the accident was the inadvertent dimming of the cockpit lighting, resulting in a perceived unsafe gear configuration. This summary draws on records from NTSB.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

During a practice ILS approach in bright sunny conditions, the pilot initiated a go-around after noticing the landing gear indicator lights might not be illuminated, resulting in a propeller strike and substantial left wing damage.

Accident Details

The pilot was performing a practice instrument landing system (ILS) approach and landing at midday under bright sunny conditions. According to the pilot's report, he extended the landing gear and flaps when approximately three miles from the airport. As the airplane crossed the runway threshold and was about to touch down, the pilot observed that the landing gear green indicator lights appeared not to be illuminated.

Go-Around Attempt

In response, the pilot applied full throttle and immediately retracted the landing gear and flaps. During the go-around, the airplane settled, and the propeller struck the runway. The pilot maintained full power and a nose-high attitude as airspeed decreased. The airplane subsequently struck obstructions beside the runway and came to rest upright roughly 3,000 feet down the 6,704-foot-long runway.

Damage and Injuries

The left wing sustained substantial damage. The solo pilot was not injured.

Post-Accident Inspection

An inspection by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the cockpit lighting dimmer switch was set to the "Night Dim" position.

Contributing factors

Causes

Incorrect use/operationPilot

Other contributing factors

Effect on operation