Piper AEROSTAR 6 accident near Middletown, Ohio, November 21, 2008
On November 21, 2008 at about 6:34 pm local time, a Piper AEROSTAR 6, registered N3640D, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Middletown, Ohio (Hook Field Municipal). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to verify that the landing gear was down and locked prior to landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 21, 2008 · about 6:34 pm local time
- Place
- Middletown, Ohio · Hook Field Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper AEROSTAR 6
- Registration
- N3640D · no longer on the register · serial 61P08098063419
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that after an uneventful flight, he entered the traffic pattern at the destination airport. He extended the landing gear as the airplane was crossing mid-field on downwind for runway 23 (6,100 feet by 100 feet, asphalt). There was a right quartering headwind for landing. The pilot noted that he was focused on maintaining airspeed and establishing the proper crosswind landing attitude. As a result, he failed to check the landing gear position lights in order to verify that the gear was down and locked. After landing, the left main landing gear collapsed, followed by the right main landing gear. The airplane skidded to the left and came to rest in the grassy area adjacent to the runway. The pilot noted that the cockpit landing gear lever provided resistance although it was not fully in the down position. He added that there were no failures or malfunctions associated with the airplane prior to the accident.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Landing gear collapse during landing defining event
- Runway excursion during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Forgotten action/omission › Pilot
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Landing gear selector › Incorrect use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 720 hours in all; 180 in this make and model; 36 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 675 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 12, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,696 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 8, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 6,315 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming IO-540 SER (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming IO-540 SER (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MRH Beaufort NC at 3:55 pm
- Destination: MWO Middletown OH
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 23, 6,100 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 10°F (-12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.47 inHg
- Observation at 6:35 pm from MWO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.