# NTSB CEN21LA256: Piper PA-28-161, N2120J, San Angelo, TX, June 3, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 2, 2021, 20:50 local (Jun 3, 2021, 01:50 UTC) - Place: San Angelo, TX · on runway - Coordinates: 31.356689, -100.49921 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.3567&lon=-100.4992&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 103233 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA256 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103233/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103233 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA256 ## Probable cause Inadequate maintenance of the left main landing gear strut, which resulted in a landing gear collapse. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: main landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Inadequate inspection (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 241 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md) - [Maintenance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Maintenance personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062000/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 143 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor stated that, during the landing roll, the left main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane veered left, which damaged the left wing. Examination of the left main landing gear strut revealed that several mounting holes were elongated, consistent with wear over an extended period, and several bolts were missing. The landing gear strut’s missing bolts and loose hardware likely resulted in the failure of the remaining fasteners to support the airplane’s weight and resulted in the landing gear collapse. Although the airplane’s maintenance records were not made available for review and the maintenance history of the landing gear could not be determined, the elongated mounting holes and missing bolts were consistent with maintenance personnel’s failure to ensure that proper torque was applied to the landing gear strut hardware. ## Factual narrative On June 2, 2021, about 2050 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28-161 airplane, N2120J, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near San Angelo, Texas. The flight instructor and student pilot were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The instructor stated that, during the landing roll, he noticed the left wing lower as if the tire was flat. The airplane subsequently veered left, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. Postaccident examination revealed a hole on top of the left wing where the left main landing gear strut assembly had broken loose from the upper left wing spar cap. Several mounting holes in the left main landing gear strut were elongated, consistent with wear over an extended period of time. Several landing gear strut mounting bolts were loose, and all bolts were missing from the lower strut assembly mount. During removal of the left main landing gear strut assembly from the left wing, only the brake line remained attached, with no other hardware securing the left main landing gear strut to the left wing. The airplane’s maintenance records were not made available for review, and the maintenance history of the landing gear could not be determined. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2120J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2120J-2025-05-31), registration cancelled 2025-05-31, S/N 28-7916198, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-161 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7916198 - Year built: 1978 - Airframe hours: 8168 - Engines: Lycoming O320-D3G 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Nuytten Patrick - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 21, 2021, 78 hours before - Departed: SJT, San Angelo, TX - Airport: SJT, San Angelo Regional Airport, runway 18, 8,054 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Auto-pilot, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 22, 2020; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 437 total, 22 in this make and model, 34 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 36; injuries: none; student; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 6 total, 6 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: KSJT - METAR: KSJT 030151Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 20/17 A2995 RMK AO2 SLP125 T02000167 ## 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 20210602007509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210602007509A), Jun 2, 2021: Piper PA-28-161, San Angelo, TX, Substantial damage. On June 2, 2021, at 2050 CDT, a Piper PA-28-161, bearing registration number N2120J registered to [privacy data omitted] suffered a left landing gear collapse.… ## Other investigations on N2120J (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 CEN11CA376](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA376), Apr 17, 2011: Piper PA-28-161 (N2120J), San Angelo, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper fuel management, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 29, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103233. 2.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13188734&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Correspondence with FAA (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 152 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13190453&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Correspondence%20with%20FAA%20-%20Substantial%20Damage_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos of airplane (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 998 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13649552&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-Rel.pdf - Examination information (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 82 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13190182&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Examination%20report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum concerning maintenance records (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 101 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13649188&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20Concerning%20Maintenance%20Records-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.