# Accident 19980520011259A: Piper PA44180, Fresno, CA, May 20, 1998 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: May 20, 1998, 17:15 local time - Place: Fresno, CA - Airport: Fresno Yosemite International Airport - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 36.7490° N, 119.6697° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.7490&lon=-119.6697&mi=10 - Aircraft: N2153B, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2153B-2018-09-13) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Piper PA-44-180 (registry code 7104402, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-44-180) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series (registry code 41514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA44180 - Reported engine: LYC O360* - People aboard: 2 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Pilot flight hours: 1,221 total, 149 in this make and model, 9 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX98LA176](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA176) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980520011259A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. ACFT LANDED HARD AND THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED, FRESNO, CA. (.4) AFTER PRACTICING MANEUVERS AND TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS AT AN ALTERNATE AIRPORT, THE DUAL INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT WAS RETURNING TO BASE TO TERMINATE THE FLIGHT. IN THE PATTERN THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR SIMULATED AN ENGINE FAILURE, WITH THE STUDENT RECOVERING AND MAKING A FULL STOP LANDING. ON THE LANDING ROLLOUT, THE AIRCRAFT VEERED TO THE RIGHT. THE INSTRUCTOR APPLIED FULL LEFT RUDDER, WITH THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUING TO THE RIGHT. THE INSTRUCTOR BROUGHT THE AIRCRAFT TO A STOP ON THE RUNWAY, THEN REQUESTED AND RECEIVED PERMISSION FROM THE TOWER TO EXIT THE AIRCRAFT AND CHECK THE LANDING GEAR. THE INSTRUCTOR NOTED THAT THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR WAS BROKEN. UPON ATTEMPTING TO RE-ENTER THE AIRCRAFT, THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED, AND THE RIGHT WING STRUCK THE GROUND. THE INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENT SUBMITTED WRITTEN STATEMENTS THAT STATED THE LANDING WAS NOT HARD. IN THEIR INTERVIEWS; HOWEVER, THEY BOTH STATED THAT THE LANDING WAS HARD AND THE STUDENT STATED THAT SHE WAS NOT SURE IF THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN PROPERLY ALIGNED WITH THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT AND LANDING GEAR MECHANISM WERE EXAMINED AT THE ACCIDENT LOCATION. THE RIGHT LANDING GEAR HAD SEPARATED FROM THE WING WITH THE FRONT AND REAR ATTACH FITTINGS BROKEN, EXHIBITING OUTBOARD LOADING. THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED TOWARDS THE FUSELAGE. NO FURTHER MECHANICAL ANOMALIES WERE NOTED. (-23) DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT INDICATES A HARD LANDING WITH LATERAL LOAD IMPOSED ON RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR. STATEMENTS FROM THE INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENT REFLECT A CONFLICT OF WHAT HAPPENED DURING LANDING AT KFAT. ## 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 LAX98LA176](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA176), May 21, 1998: Piper PA-44-180 (N2153B), Fresno, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The dual's student improper flare that led to the right main landing gear collapsing. A related factor in the accident was the instructor pilot's inadequate supervision. ## Other reports on N2153B (4) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Incident 20011002026839I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011002026839I), Oct 2, 2001: Piper PA44180 (N2153B), Fresno, CA. (-23) Mr. Terry was conducting a multi-engine training flight with Mr. Soule as the student in N2153B, a PA-44-180. A second student was aboard as an observer.… - [Incident 19971228041419I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971228041419I), Dec 28, 1997: Piper PA44180 (N2153B), Fresno, CA, Minor damage. Narrative: on December 28, 1997, at about 1225 PST, Mr. Traver (CFI) was giving multiengine instruction in a PA-44, N2153B. After practicing a left engine out… - [Incident 19921214053659I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19921214053659I), Dec 14, 1992: Piper PA44180 (N2153B), Fresno, CA. Right engine failed en route. Returned to airport. Appears magneto drive shaft uncoupled from accessory drive gears - [Incident 19871019077849I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871019077849I), Oct 19, 1987: Piper PA44180 (N2153B), Tampa, FL, Substantial damage. Making a flaps up approach forgot to lower landing gear. Landed gear up FAA check ride. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.