Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to extend the landing gear before landing due to distraction and his failure to conduct the prelanding checklist.
NTSB analysis
According to the pilot, shortly after takeoff, he heard a slapping noise outside the right front door of the airplane. He determined that the seatbelt was outside the door, and he decided to land to fix it. While on a midfield downwind to the runway, another pilot radioed that he was entering the vicinity of the airport to land. The accident pilot stated that he attempted to gauge the other pilot’s proximity to the airport and prepare himself for a crosswind landing and forgot to complete his prelanding checklist, which included lowering the landing gear. The airplane landed gear up, which resulted in substantial damage to the longerons on the belly of the airplane.
The pilot reported that there were no malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN25LA133 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Mar 20, 2025
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Liberal, Kansas
- Nearest airport
- Liberal Mid America Regional (LBL)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Dawn
Piper PA-28R-201T
- N-number
- N38871
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1977
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.