# NTSB ATL86LA043: Piper PA-31T, N4445K, Spartanburg, SC, December 16, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 16, 1985, 13:15 local (18:15 UTC)
- Place: Spartanburg, SC
- Location: 34.9164° N, 81.9558° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at SPARTANBURG DOWNTOWN MEML/SIMPSON FLD (SPA), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9164&lon=-81.9558&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7045
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL86LA043
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7045/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL86LA043

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - runway

## Analysis

DURING LANDING ROLL THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE ACFT SKIDDED TO A STOP ON THE RWY. THE ACFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED AND THE PLT WAS NOT INJURED. A WITNESS STATED THAT HE OBSERVED THE LANDING GEAR IN THE DOWN POSITION WHILE THE ACFT WAS IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN. A LANDING GEAR EXTENSION AND RETRACTION TEST WAS PERFORMED ON THE ACFT AFTER THE ACCIDENT AND THE SYSTEM OPERATED NORMALLY. NO PRE-IMPACT FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N4445K (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31T
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 790038
- Airframe hours: 2165
- Engines: P&W PT6A-28 620 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Holmberg Electronic Corp.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: CAE, COLUMBIA, SC
- Airport: SPA, Spartanbugh Mem, runway 22, 5,203 × 100 ft, macadam

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 12,000 total, 60 in this make and model, 12,000 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 200° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 18 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SPA, 1 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19851216063529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19851216063529A), Dec 16, 1985: Piper PA31T, Spartanburg, SC, Substantial damage. Report indicates that pilot inadvertently retracted the landing gear on landing rollout.

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.

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