# NTSB ATL99LA082: Piper PA-24-250, N7001P, Southern Pines, NC, May 8, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 8, 1999, 17:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Southern Pines, NC - Coordinates: 35.179477, -79.399375 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1795&lon=-79.3994&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 2, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46246 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL99LA082 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46246/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL99LA082 ## Probable cause A failure of the left main landing gear retraction assembly as a result of the disconnection of the left main landing gear strap bracket assembly from the main gear spring attachment bracket due to the missing nut. A factor was the ditch. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, approach - vfr pattern - base turn - landing gear,normal retraction/extension assembly - failure,total (cause) - landing gear,main gear attachment - disconnected (cause) - Wheels up landing, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - grass - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor) ## Analysis The flight departed Wadesboro, North Carolina, en route to Newport News, Virginia, with a planned fuel stop in Ahoskie, North Carolina. Upon arriving in Newport News, the pilot attempted to lower the landing gear and noticed an unsafe landing gear indication. Normal and emergency procedures for retraction of the landing gear were unsuccessful. The pilot elected to divert to Southern Pines, North Carolina. He performed a wheels-up landing on the grass between the two runways and during landing rollout, the aircraft impacted a ditch. An examination of the airplane revealed that the strap bracket assembly was missing the nut that attaches it to the main landing gear spring attachment bracket. As a result, the left landing gear had come loose and reversed direction, preventing the landing gear from fully extending and locking in the down position. ## Factual narrative On May 8, 1999, at 1730 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-24-250, N7001P, collided with a ditch during a wheels-up landing at the Moore County Airport in Southern Pines, North Carolina. The personal flight was operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with a VFR flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The private pilot and the passenger/pilot were not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight originated from Tri-County Airport in Ahoskie, North Carolina, at 1400. According to the pilot, the flight departed Wadesboro, North Carolina, at 1200 on the day of the accident, with a final destination of Newport News, Virginia. They landed at Tri-County Airport at 1215 for a planned refueling stop. Upon arriving in Newport News at 1445, the flight entered visual traffic for a full stop landing on runway 25 and received a clearance to land. While turning onto a left base, the pilot lowered the landing gear handle and noticed an unsafe landing gear indication. He notified the tower that the aircraft's landing gear did not fully extend, and he requested to perform a go around. The pilot completed the emergency landing gear manual extension procedure, but was unsuccessful in lowering the landing gear. The pilot notified the tower of his intention to divert to Southern Pines, where he knew there was a grass strip on which to land. At the time, the aircraft had over two and a half hours of fuel remaining, and the pilot wanted to deplete as much fuel as possible prior to landing. While en route to Southern Pines, the pilot was able to retract the landing gear by reattaching the gear motor arm and raising the landing gear electronically. Upon arrival at Southern Pines, he again attempted to extend the landing gear but was unsuccessful. The pilot performed a wheels-up landing on a grass strip between the two runways. During the landing rollout, the aircraft impacted a ditch. Following the accident, an inspection was performed on the landing gear by an FAA inspector. The examination revealed that the strap bracket assembly was missing the nut that attaches it to the main landing gear spring attachment bracket. The left landing gear had come loose and reversed direction, preventing the landing gear from fully extending and locking in the down position. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7001P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7001P), registered now, S/N 24-2146 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-24-250 - Registry model: [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (registry code 7102404) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-2146 - Airframe hours: 1300 - Engines: Lycoming O-540 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Benjamin C. Brasington - Registered owner: Robert H. Brasington - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 30, 1998, 30 hours before - Departed: ASJ, AHOSKIE, NC - Destination: PHF, NEWPORT NEWS, VA - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: SOP, Moore County Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 275 total, 59 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 19990508020559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990508020559A), May 8, 1999: Piper PA24250, Southern Pines, NC, Substantial damage. On may 8, 1999, at 1730 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA24, N7001P, skidded off the left side of runway 23, during a wheels-up landing at the Moore County… 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. --- 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.