Probable cause
The pilot's failure to lower the landing gear prior to landing.
NTSB analysis
The pilot stated that he entered the airport's traffic pattern for landing and landed the airplane with the landing gear retracted. He said that he did not use a landing checklist, and that he was wearing a noise-canceling headset and did not hear the landing gear caution horn when he reduced the throttle for landing. The bottom of the airplane sustained structural damage requiring the replacement of several bulkheads and associated stringers, as well as a significant area of skin.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR11CA141 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Jan 18, 2011
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Aurora, Oregon
- Nearest airport
- Aurora State (UAO)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Piper PA-24-250
- N-number
- N3TP
- 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.