Piper PA-31-T1 N5WC

Summary

On 20 March 2000 at about 02:45 local time, a Piper PA-31-T1 registered N5WC was involved in an accident near Scottsdale, Arizona, 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

20 March 2000 at 02:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Scottsdale, Arizona, United States

Nearest airport

Scottsdale (SDL)

Coordinates

33.6599, -111.8700

Aircraft

Piper PA-31-T1

Registration

N5WC

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Telluride → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Bright

NTSB number

LAX00LA131

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to ensure that the landing gear was lowered before touchdown.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that while landing, he felt the rudder pedals vibrating. The airplane settled and he heard the propellers striking the runway. The airplane veered to the right off the runway centerline and struck a runway light. The pressure bulkhead was punctured and there was damage to the right engine air scoop cowling, the right wing leading edge, the flaps, gear doors, bottom antennas, pitot tube, and right spinner. An FAA inspector witnessed the landing gear being swung and stated that no discrepancies were noted during the test. The landing gear light and horn systems functioned normally. No preexisting anomalies were found.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.