# NTSB CEN25LA061: Piper PA-28R-200, N4823F, Crystal, MN, December 12, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 11, 2024, 18:05 local (Dec 12, 2024, 00:05 UTC) - Place: Crystal, MN - Coordinates: 45.062469, -93.353965 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.0625&lon=-93.3540&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: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 199422 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA061 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199422/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199422 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA061 ## Probable cause The malfunction of the landing gear system which resulted in a collapse of the main landing gear during the landing roll. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: gear extension and retract sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-200, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of checklist](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-200, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 336 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-200, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-200, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-200, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that while on downwind, he lowered the landing gear lever; however, the landing gear position indicator lights did not illuminate. He cycled the landing gear lever several times with no change. The pilot noticed the sound was “less than normal” and that there was “less buffeting” when lowering the landing gear. He attempted to lock the landing gear in the down position by yawing the airplane to the left and right. The pilot flew the airplane past the air traffic control tower, and the controller verified that the airplane’s landing gear appeared to be extended. He then cycled the landing gear lever before landing. During the landing roll, the main landing gear collapsed. The airplane exited the left side of the runway, struck several runway and taxiway lights, and came to rest upright. The airplane sustained substantial damage to its left wing. The pilot did not perform the emergency gear extension procedure because the pilot’s operating handbook with the emergency procedures was in the baggage compartment at the time of the accident. Postaccident examination revealed that, when the airplane was lifted, the main landing gear extended and locked in the down position. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4823F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4823F), registered now, S/N 28R-7635437, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R-200 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200) (registry code 7102811) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28R-7635437 - Year built: 1976 - Airframe hours: 5342.05 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-C1C 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 10, 2024, 216.58 hours before - Departed: LXT, Lee's Summit, MO - Destination: MIC, Minneapolis, MN - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: MIC, Crystal Airport, runway 32, 3,751 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 6, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 813.8 total, 377.3 in this make and model, 673.8 as pilot in command, 27.6 in the last 90 days, 10.5 in the last 30 days, 3.9 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright - Wind: 310° at 14 knots, gusting 27 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -11 °F - Altimeter: 30.16 inHg - Icing: Unknown - Turbulence: Unknown - Observed at: KMIC - METAR: METAR KMIC 112353Z 31014G27KT 10SM FEW022 M18/M24 A3016 RMK AO2 PK WND 30027/2348 SLP234 60000 T11831244 11128 21183 51024= ## 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 20241211019969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241211019969A), Dec 11, 2024: Piper PA-28R-200, Crystal, MN, Substantial damage. The pilot stated the flight was normal until he selected the gear down, he received the "intransit light" and never received the normal "three green" lights… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 20, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199422. 2.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18407083&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 447 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18364070&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photographs-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector's statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18363120&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20MOR-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.