Probable cause
The pilot's failure to ensure that the landing gear was placed in the down position prior to landing.
NTSB analysis
While landing at the destination airport, the pilot failed to lower the landing gear. The airplane settled on the runway centerline gear up, departed the right side of the runway, and came to rest in the grass. The pilot was able to egress the airplane without assistance. Damage was discovered to the airplane's left wing leading edge, belly, and fuselage.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for DFW08CA219 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Aug 20, 2008
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- St. Louis, Missouri
- Nearest airport
- Spirit Of St Louis Airport (SUS)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Piper PA46-500TP
- N-number
- N618MA
- Category
- Airplane
- 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.