# NTSB CEN19LA183: Piper PA24, N5866P, Greeley, CO, June 24, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 24, 2019, 10:25 local (16:25 UTC) - Place: Greeley, CO - Coordinates: 40.4375, -104.633331 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4375&lon=-104.6333&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 99704 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN19LA183 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99704/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99704 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19LA183 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in failure of the right main landing gear and a subsequent loss of control. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 34 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Aircraft structural failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337/sequence.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 290 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that the final approach and touchdown were uneventful, but then the airplane's right wing “dipped,” the nose veered left, and the airplane departed the runway surface. Witnesses reported that, during the landing, the nose gear contacted the runway first and then the airplane became airborne again. After the second touchdown, the airplane veered left into the grass. Examination of the airplane revealed that the right main landing gear sustained damage consistent with an excessive side load during landing. There was no evidence of a preimpact mechanical malfunction that would have precluded normal operation. Based on the available information, the accident is consistent with the pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in touchdown on the runway with a side load on the landing gear, failure of the right main gear, and a loss of control. ## Factual narrative On June 24, 2019, about 1025 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-24 airplane, N5866P, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Greeley, Colorado. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that he completed a touch-and-go landing, which was uneventful, and he planned his next landing to be a full-stop landing. The pilot stated everything "was good" until touching down, when the airplane's right wing “dipped” and the nose veered left, causing the airplane to exit the runway surface. The airplane hit a taxiway light and continued into the grass on the south side of the runway, where it came to rest. A flight instructor who witnessed the accident stated that, during the landing, the nose landing gear hit the runway first and the airplane bounced and became airborne again before he lost sight of it. Examination of the airplane revealed that the side brace stud of the right main gear side brace upper link assembly was disconnected from the main gear side brace support fitting assembly. The roll pin inserted through the threading on the stud that connected to the support fitting was sheared and the threads of the stud were stripped. The push/pull (conduit) cable assembly arm that connected to the main gear side brace upper link assembly and actuated the landing gear was bent upward. No mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the landing gear were found. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5866P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5866P), registered now, S/N 24-949, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA24 (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: 24-949 - Year built: 1959 - Engines: Lycoming O-540 SERIES 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 9, 2018 - Departed: GXY, Greeley, CO - Destination: GXY, Greeley, CO - Airport: GXY, Greeley-Weld County, runway 28, 5,801 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 9, 2018; seat: left; flight hours: 395 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Day - Wind: 190° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: KGXY ## 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 20190624005719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190624005719A), Jun 24, 2019: Piper PA-24-250, Greeley, CO, Substantial damage. On 6/24/2019 at approximately 17:00 hrs (MDT), N5866P, sn 24-949, Piper PA-24-250, pilot touchdown on runway 28 at Greeley airport and right main gear… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 17, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99704. 6.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 394 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12311503&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20N5866P%20completed%20w%20block%20filled_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation with witness (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 121 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12311689&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20with%20Flight%20Instructor-Rel.pdf - NTSB landing gear examination report (item 3, PDF, 5 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12310827&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN19LA183%20Landing%20Gear%20Exam-Rel.pdf - Photographs (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 5.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12310934&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photographs-Rel.pdf 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.