Pilot Debrief

Piper PA23 near Charlotte Amalie — 2019-09-12

Final reportERA19LA279
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Date
2019-09-12
Location
Charlotte Amalie, USA
Airport
TIST
Aircraft
Piper PA23
Registration
N269KW
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Taxi

Probable cause

The collapse of the left main landing gear for undetermined reasons.

NTSB narrative

The commercial pilot reported that while back-taxiing at night on the takeoff runway, he cycled the propeller twice, pulled the throttle back to idle, and heard an irregular noise. He then felt ground contact, consistent with the airplane’s left main landing gear collapsing. He immediately shut off the mixtures to both engines. The pilot reported that he did not recognize that the landing gear was slowly collapsing because of the dark night conditions. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. Postaccident examination of the landing gear system revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Therefore, the reason for the landing gear collapse could not be determined.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have recognized gear issue earlier during taxi.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 5 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents5

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