# NTSB CEN25LA174: Piper PA-44-180, N453MK, Saint James, MN, May 10, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 10, 2025, 12:45 local (17:45 UTC) - Place: Saint James, MN - Coordinates: 43.984908, -94.556484 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.9849&lon=-94.5565&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 200145 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA174 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200145/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200145 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA174 ## Probable cause The failure of the left main landing gear tire casing and tube due to excessive wear which resulted in a loss of directional control during the landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: tire casing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023244): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Fatigue/wear/corrosion (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-44-180, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023244/cases.md?model=7104402), [All aircraft, 36 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023244/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: tube](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023245): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-44-180, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023245/cases.md?model=7104402), [All aircraft, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023245/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-44-180, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7104402), [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: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-44-180, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=7104402), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Piper PA-44-180, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7104402), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-44-180, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7104402), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-44-180, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7104402), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor and pilot-receiving-instruction reported that upon landing, the airplane immediately veered left followed by a noticeable vibration. The flight instructor attempted to correct with opposite rudder, however, the left veer continued, and the airplane struck a runway edge light which collapsed the left main landing gear. The airplane departed the runway surface and came to rest upright in the grass. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. Postaccident examination found that the left tire had excessive wear and a flat spot in the casing with a corresponding 2” hole. Additionally, ground scars observed prior to the runway edge light showed that the tire casing had separated from the tire rim. It is likely the tire was in a near flat condition during the landing which resulted in the loss of directional control. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N453MK](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N453MK), registered now, S/N 4496579, built 2024 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER AIRCRAFT INC PA-44-180 - Registry model: [Piper PA-44-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-44-180) (registry code 7104406) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-B1G6](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-b1g6) (registry code 41866, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 4496579 - Year built: 2024 - Airframe hours: 643 - Engines: Lycoming LIO-360-B1G6 180 horsepower reciprocating; Lycoming IO-360-B1G6 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: North Star Aviation - Registered owner: North Star Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, May 5, 2025 - Airport: JYG, St. James Municipal, runway 15, 3,999 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 21, 2024; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 717 total, 135 in this make and model, 623 as pilot in command, 83 in the last 90 days, 33 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 21; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 25, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 300 total, 43 in this make and model, 210 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.28 inHg - Observed at: KJYG - METAR: KJYG 101635Z AUTO VRB05G10KT 10SM CLR 22/03 A3028 RMK AO2= ## 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 20250510007999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250510007999A), May 10, 2025: Piper Aircraft Inc PA-44-180, St James, MN, Substantial damage. The pilot-in-command/instructor and student pilot planned a simulated single-engine failure, restart scenario and emergency descent, including a diversion to… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 5, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200145. 4.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 - instructor (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19121553&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20CFI_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 - pilot receiving instruction (item 2, PDF, 10 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19121046&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Student_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� FAA examination summary (8020-23 copy) (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 69 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19121259&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20MOR-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 964 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19122577&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.