Piper PA-28-201R N2126K

Summary

On 24 June 1991 at about 11:45 local time, a Piper PA-28-201R registered N2126K, operated by Travel Express, was involved in an accident near Wheeling, Illinois, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

24 June 1991 at 11:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Wheeling, Illinois, United States

Nearest airport

Palwaukee (PWK)

Coordinates

42.1298, -87.9201

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-201R

Registration

N2126K

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Travel Express

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI91LA201

Nobody was injured.

THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S INADEQUATE PRE-FLIGHT INSPECTION. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WERE THE LANDING GEAR LEVER NOT BEING ENGAGED, THE USE OF AN INADEQUATE PROCEDURE BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND, AND THE INADVERTENT GEAR RETRACTION DURING TAKEOFF ROLL.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

ONCE THE SINGLE ENGINE, RETRACTABLE GEAR AIRPLANE HAD TAKEN OFF THE PILOT ENGAGED THE OVERRIDE FUNCTION OF LANDING GEAR'S AUTO EXTENSION SYSTEM. PRIOR TO HIS ARRIVAL AT THE DESTINATION THE PILOT DISENGAGED THE OVERRIDE FUNCTION. THE PILOT PERFORMED HIS PRELANDING CHECKLIST DURING HIS APPROACH TO LAND AND NOTED THREE GREEN LIGHTS INDICATING GEAR EXTENSION. UPON DEPARTURE THE PILOT ACCELERATED TO A HIGHER THAN NORMAL SPEED, DUE TO PERCEIVED RESIDUAL WAKE TURBULENCE, THE AIRPLANE LIFTED OFF AND THE LANDING GEAR BEGAN TO RETRACT. THE AIRPLANE SETTLED ONTO THE RUNWAY AND SLID OFF INTO THE GRASS. THE GEAR SELECTOR SWITCH WAS FOUND IN THE UP POSITION. THE LANDING GEAR AUTO EXTENSION SYSTEM FUNCTIONS ON THE BASIS OF LOWER AIRSPEEDS AND REDUCED POWER. THE PILOT COULD NOT RECALL IF HE HAD PUT THE GEAR SELECTOR SWITCH IN THE DOWN POSITION DURING HIS ARRIVAL AT THE ACCIDENT AIRPORT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.