Grand Forks International Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Grand Forks, North Dakota 58203
Thursday, October 22, 2009 10:01 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The accident occurred during an instructional flight while practicing landings. The flight instructor reported that he became distracted while teaching his student and forgot to ensure that the landing gear was extended before landing. He stated that the landing gear warning horn was sounding before touchdown, but he did not realize that the landing gear was not configured until it was too late. Post accident inspection revealed that several fuselage structural components were damaged during the gear-up landing. The flight instructor reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The flight instructor's failure to ensure the landing gear was extended prior to landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/22/2009
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1001
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Grand Forks
Event State NORTH DAKOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 58203
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 475650N
Event Location Longitude 0971026W
Event Location Airport Grand Forks International
Event Location Nearest Airport ID KGFK
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 845
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1016 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID KGFK
Elevation of weather observation facility 845
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
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) 2
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Light and Variable
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.28
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 26544
NTSB Notification Source University of North Dakota
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 19 2010 5:11PM
User who most recently changed record dinc
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N593ND
NTSB Number CEN10CA026
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-44-180
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 4496270
Certified Max Gross Weight 3800
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 AAIP
Date of Last Inspection Oct 15 2009 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 298
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name UND Aerospace Foundation
Aircraft Owner Street Address 4251 University Avenue, Stop 9023
Aircraft Owner City Grand Forks
Aircraft Owner State ND
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 58202-9023
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name UND Aerospace Foundation
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 4251 University Avenue, Stop 9023
Operator City Grand Forks
Operator State ND
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 58202-9023
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code KGFK
Departure City Grand Forks
Departure State ND
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 840
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code KGFK
Destination City Grand Forks
Destination State ND
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 7 2010 10:06PM
User who most recently changed record foxt
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 17L
Runway Length 7349
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --