NTSB Factual Report

On July 9, 2001, at about 1500 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-46-500TP, N747DN, registered to the New Piper Aircraft Inc., operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, experienced a gear up landing at the Palm Beach County Glades Airport, Pahokee, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The airline transport rated certified flight instructor (CFI) and commercial pilot receiving instruction reported no injuries. The flight originated from Vero Beach, Florida, about 1 hour before the accident.

The CFI stated they were making an approach to runway 35. "The approach checklist was completed to the flaps and landing gear. After that discussion the landing gear was over looked and a no flap, no landing gear approach was made to touch down." The operator stated in the NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report submitted on September 11, 2001, that there was no evidence of a mechanical malfunction ion or failure.

The damage to the airplane was upgraded to substantial damage based on an airframe examination conducted by the New Piper Aircraft Inc, and was inadvertently not reported to the NTSB.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to follow the checklist while making an approach for landing resulting in a wheels up landing. Contributing to the accident was the certified flight instructor inadequate supervision of the rated pilot receiving instruction.