Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to lower the landing gear before touchdown, which resulted in a gear-up landing.
NTSB analysis
According to the pilot, he was landing at his home airport where multiple runways were in use and multiple airplanes were operating in the traffic pattern. The pilot stated that his “pre-landing checklist got interrupted checking for traffic” and he completed the landing with the landing gear retracted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the underside of the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. During recovery of the airplane, the landing gear operated normally when the landing gear handle was placed in the down position.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA24LA130 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Mar 1, 2024
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Zephyrhills, Florida
- Nearest airport
- Zephyrhills Muni (ZPH)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Piper PA-34-200
- N-number
- N15529
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1972
- 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.