No fatalities

24 Feb 2015: PIPER PA 28R-201 — Westwind School of Aeronautics — Phoenix, AZ

Phoenix, AZ, United States

On 24 Feb 2015, a PIPER PA 28R-201 operated by Westwind School of Aeronautics was involved in an aviation accident near Phoenix, AZ. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot under instruction's inadvertent retraction of the landing gear during the landing rollout. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 17 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

During landing rollout, a student pilot inadvertently retracted the landing gear, causing the aircraft to sink onto its left side. Structural damage occurred to the left wing, stabilator, and empennage. No mechanical anomalies were reported.

Incident Overview

During the landing rollout of a training flight, the pilot undergoing instruction (PUI) inadvertently retracted the landing gear. According to reports from both the flight instructor and the PUI, the landing gear handle was immediately selected back to the down position. Despite this action, the aircraft sank to the left, resulting in contact between the airframe and the runway.

Damage Assessment

The airplane sustained structural damage to the left wing, stabilator, and empennage. The extent of the damage necessitated repairs to these components. No further details regarding the severity of the damage or repair timeline were provided.

Pilot Reports

Both pilots reported no mechanical malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation prior to the incident. The flight instructor and the PUI provided consistent accounts of the events, noting that the gear retraction was inadvertent and occurred during the rollout phase of landing. No other operational anomalies were noted.

Contributing factors

Student/instructed pilotIncorrect use/operation