# Accident 20260223001569A: Piper PA-30, Big Bear, CA, February 23, 2026

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 23, 2026, 17:59 local time
- Place: Big Bear, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.2638° N, 116.8560° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2638&lon=-116.8560&mi=10
- Aircraft: N811LE, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N811LE) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-30 (registry code 7103002, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-320 series (registry code 41509, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-30
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR26LA107](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA107) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260223001569A

## Narrative

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

ON FEBRUARY 23, 2026 AT 1759 PST A PIPER PA-30 EXPERIENCED A LANDING GEAR COLLAPSE DURING LANDING AT BIG BEAR CITY AIRPORT (L35), IT SLID TO A STOP ON THE RUNWAY ON THE BELLY OF THE AIRCRAFT. THERE WERE TWO PERSONS ON BOARD, ONE PILOT AND ONE PASSENGER. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE AIRCRAFT AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE BELLY AND BOTH PROPELLERS. THE LANDING GEAR HANDLE WAS IN THE DOWN POSITION UPON EXAMINATION.DURING AIRCRAFT RECOVERY, THE AIRCRAFT WAS HOISTED OFF THE GROUND AND UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE NTSB, THE AIRPORT MANAGER AND PILOT TURNED THE MASTER SWITCH ON, THE LANDING GEAR HANDLE WAS IN THE DOWN POSITION AND THE MOTOR DID NOT TURN ON. THE LANDING GEAR CIRCUIT BREAKER WAS "POPPED", IT WAS RESET AND THE GEAR MOTOR BEGAN TO RUN BUT THE LANDING GEAR DID NOT MOVE. THE MASTER SWITCH WAS TURNED OFF AND AN EMERGENCY GEAR EXTENSION WAS PERFORMED DURING WHICH THE LANDING GEAR MOVED INTO THE DOWN AND LOCKED POSITION. WHEN THE MASTER SWITCH WAS TURNED BACK ON, THE LANDING GEAR DOWN AND LOCKED GREEN LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE GEAR WAS CONFIRMED DOWN AND LOCKED.

## 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 WPR26LA107](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA107), Feb 24, 2026: Piper PA-30 (N811LE), Big Bear, CA, substantial damage, investigation ongoing

## Other reports on N811LE (1)

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

- [Accident 19801014058279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19801014058279A), Oct 14, 1980: Piper PA30 (N811LE), Destin, FL, Substantial damage. Nose gear damaged from previous hard landing. Popped circuit breaker prior to full down. Failed to check gear down.

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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