# Accident 19900218003269A: Piper PA28161, Pontiac, MI, February 18, 1990

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 18, 1990, 08:45 local time
- Place: Pontiac, MI
- Airport: Oakland-Pontiac
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Ground Taxi, Other Airplane
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.7698° N, 82.5306° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7698&lon=-82.5306&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8394D, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8394D) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-161 (registry code 7102803, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28161
- Reported engine: LYC O320D3G
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,205 total, 76 in this make and model, 136 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI90LA085](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI90LA085) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900218003269A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED ON TAXI FOR TAKEOFF. ATTACH BOLTS SHEARED.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CHI90LA085](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI90LA085), Feb 18, 1990: Piper PA-28-161 (N8394D), Pontiac, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: OVERLOAD FAILURE OF THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR ATTACH BOLTS FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON.

## Other reports on N8394D (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20260629012609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260629012609A), Jun 29, 2026: Piper PA-28-161 (N8394D), Easton, MD, Substantial damage. After first flight, parked at ramp and shutdown aircraft for about 30 minutes. After preflight, initiated before start checklist, attempted to start engine, no…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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