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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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June 12, 1982 · North American 0-47B · N4725V

Porterville, CA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 12, 1982
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (5 uninjured)
Location
Porterville, CA
Aircraft
North American 0-47B
Tail Number
N4725V
Operator
David E Lyon
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX82DA216

During arrival for landing, the pilot was leading a flight of five dissimilar aircraft. After pitching out in a 360 degree, overhead approach, the pilot flew a fairly tight pattern. On base, when he would normally have felt the gear lock in place, his attention was diverted as another aircraft passed beneath his nose. The landing gear indicator was an early model that was difficult to read. Also, it was located at the bottom of a panel where it was hard to see. The pilot stated that he checked the position of the gear handle several times as well as the hydraulic pressure. As he flared for landing, he started to go-around when the aircraft settled lower than normal. The propeller hit the surface as he settled with the gear retracted. He closed the throttle and mixture and slid to a stop. The fuel sump drain for the main tank was located at the lowest part of the fuselage. While sliding to a stop, the drain ground off and a fire started. No fire equipment was readily available.

Full Narrative

DURING ARRIVAL FOR LANDING, THE PILOT WAS LEADING A FLIGHT OF FIVE DISSIMILAR AIRCRAFT. AFTER PITCHING OUT IN A 360 DEGREE, OVERHEAD APPROACH, THE PILOT FLEW A FAIRLY TIGHT PATTERN. ON BASE, WHEN HE WOULD NORMALLY HAVE FELT THE GEAR LOCK IN PLACE, HIS ATTENTION WAS DIVERTED AS ANOTHER AIRCRAFT PASSED BENEATH HIS NOSE. THE LANDING GEAR INDICATOR WAS AN EARLY MODEL THAT WAS DIFFICULT TO READ. ALSO, IT WAS LOCATED AT THE BOTTOM OF A PANEL WHERE IT WAS HARD TO SEE. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE CHECKED THE POSITION OF THE GEAR HANDLE SEVERAL TIMES AS WELL AS THE HYDRAULIC PRESSURE. AS HE FLARED FOR LANDING, HE STARTED TO GO-AROUND WHEN THE AIRCRAFT SETTLED LOWER THAN NORMAL. THE PROPELLER HIT THE SURFACE AS HE SETTLED WITH THE GEAR RETRACTED. HE CLOSED THE THROTTLE AND MIXTURE AND SLID TO A STOP. THE FUEL SUMP DRAIN FOR THE MAIN TANK WAS LOCATED AT THE LOWEST PART OF THE FUSELAGE. WHILE SLIDING TO A STOP, THE DRAIN GROUND OFF AND A FIRE STARTED. NO FIRE EQUIPMENT WAS READILY AVAILABLE.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time18:20 PDT
Nearest AirportPorterville (0nm N)
Runway30
Runway Length6000 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionGrd

Aircraft

AircraftNorth American 0-47B
Tail NumberN4725V
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorDavid E Lyon
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsWright · R-1820G-2 · Reciprocating · 1000
Seats5

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (5 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured5
Total5
Crew 1Age 30 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind265° @ 5 kt
Visibility20 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point18 C / 0 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg

Appendix: Source Data