Scottsdale Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Scottsdale, Arizona 85260
Tuesady, May 17, 2005 14:10 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During the takeoff roll portion of a touch-and-go, the pilot receiving instruction inadvertently operated the landing gear handle instead of the flap handle. As the airplane continued to roll, the left main and the nose gear retracted. The certified flight instructor stated that he "grabbed the handle immediately when he saw the student retract it," but evidently it was too late. During the post accident airplane examination, no mechanical failures or malfunctions were found with the landing gear system. The instructor reported that they experienced no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the student pilot's inadvertent retraction of the landing gear, and the flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the flight.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/17/2005
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1410
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City Scottsdale
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 85260
Event Date Year 2005
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 333722N
Event Location Longitude 1115438W
Event Location Airport Scottsdale Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID SDL
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 --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1353 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID KSDL
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 30
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 17
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.64
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 18297
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date May 17 2005 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Sep 13 2005 12:54PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Scottsdale Flight Standards District Office

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4162K
NTSB Number LAX05CA177
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-34-220T
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 3449097
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Sabena Airline Training Center
Aircraft Owner Street Address 14605 N. Airport Drive STE 352
Aircraft Owner City Scottsdale
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 85260
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code B4VS
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code IWA
Departure City Phoenix
Departure State AZ
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1315
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code SDL
Destination City Scottsdale
Destination State AZ
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing - roll
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 17 2005 1:05PM
User who most recently changed record COOS
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 21
Runway Length 8249
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --