Spartanburg Downtown Mem. Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Spartanburg, South Carolina 29316
Wednesday, July 31, 1991 12:35 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE AIRPLANE WAS LANDED WITH THE LANDING GEAR RETRACTED. A WITNESS WHO WORKED IN THE AIRPORT MANAGER'S OFFICE NOTED THAT THE GEAR WAS UP WHEN THE AIRPLANE WAS ON SHORT FINAL APPROACH. THE AIRPORT MANAGER NOTED THAT THE LANDING GEAR HANDLE WAS DOWN WHEN THE PILOT EXITED THE AIRPLANE AFTER IT SLID TO A STOP. NORMALLY, THE GEAR HANDLE RETURNS TO NEUTRAL WHEN THE GEAR FULLY EXTENDS. ITS POSITION INDICATED THAT THE GEAR HANDLE WAS LOWERED AFTER LANDING. AN FAA INSPECTOR EXAMINED THE LANDING GEAR AFTER THE ACCIDENT AND NOTED THAT IT FUNCTIONED NORMALLY.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE CHECKLIST AND EXTEND THE LANDING GEAR PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/31/1991
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1235
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City SPARTANBURG
Event State SOUTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 29316
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport SPARTANBURG DOWNTOWN MEM.
Event Location Nearest Airport ID SPA
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 808
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1251 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 135
Weather Observation Facility ID GSP
Elevation of weather observation facility 972
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 4000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 33000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 6
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 22
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 60
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 1500
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1774
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 45652
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N300HF
NTSB Number ATL91LA149
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-31-325
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-31-325
Aircraft Serial Number 31-7812008
Certified Max Gross Weight 6500
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 12 1990 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 278
Airframe Hours 2858
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name TOMARK INDUSTRIES, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P. O. BOX 387
Aircraft Owner City GLENDALE
Aircraft Owner State SC
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 29346
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name TOMARK INDUSTRIES, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address P. O. BOX 387
Operator City GLENDALE
Operator State SC
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 29346
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code PDK
Departure City CHAMBLEE
Departure State GA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1130
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code SPA
Destination City SPARTANBURG
Destination State SC
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 4
Runway Length 5203
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --