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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

September 26, 2017 · Piper PA-24-260 · N9020P

Los Angeles, CA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 26, 2017
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Los Angeles, CA
Aircraft
Piper PA-24-260 (1966)
Tail Number
N9020P
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
WPR17LA217

The pilot was concluding a personal flight. He stated that he lowered the landing gear while preparing to land and felt the airplane's drag increase; however, he could not remember if he got confirmation that the landing gear were down and locked from the indicator light in the cockpit. He stated that the landing flare was normal but that as the airplane continued the landing roll, all three landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained structural damage to the fuselage. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that all the landing gear were in the gear wells. The main landing gear doors were not damaged and only the nose landing gear door had light scratches, which is likely due to the landing gear being in the retracted position as the airplane touched down on the runway. A landing gear swing was accomplished, and no mechanical malfunctions or failures were revealed that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause

Aircraft-Aircraft systems-Landing gear system-(general)-Not used/operated - C

Full Narrative

On September 26, 2017, at 1638 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-24-260 airplane, N9020P, sustained substantial damage during landing at Whiteman Airport, Los Angeles, California. The private pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and no flight plan had been filed for the flight which departed from Camarillo, California about 1600. The pilot reported that he lowered the landing gear while preparing to land on runway 12. He stated that after lowering the gear, he felt the airplane's drag increase but could not remember if he got a confirmation they were down and locked from the indicator light. He further stated the landing flare was normal and the airplane touched down on the main landing gear. Thereafter, the nose gear settled toward the runway and as the airplane continued on the landing roll, all three gear collapsed. The airplane incurred structural damage to the fuselage. A Federal Aviation Administration certified mechanic examined the airplane after the accident. He stated that all three landing gear were in the gear wells. The main landing gear doors were not damaged and only the nose landing gear door had light scratches, which he thought was consistent with the landing gear being retracted at the time of impact. After recovering the airplane, the mechanic swung the landing gear and performed an examination. He found no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have prevented normal operation.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:38 PDT
Nearest AirportWhiteman Airport (0nm NE)
Runway12
Runway Length4120 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-24-260
Tail NumberN9020P
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · TIO-540-O4A5 · Reciprocating · 310
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 70 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind110° @ 7 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point34 C
Altimeter29.80 inHg
Observation Time23:38
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data