# NTSB CEN26LA089: Piper PA24, N7085P, Bay City, MI, January 8, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 8, 2026, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Bay City, MI · Airplane came to a stop on the right side of runway 18 at the 1st taxiway turn off. - Coordinates: 43.549184, -83.895181 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.5492&lon=-83.8952&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 12, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Grand Rapids FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 202285 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA089 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202285/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202285 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA089 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to ensure the landing gear was down and locked before landing. ## 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 · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md) - [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that upon runway contact, the airplane began to pull to the right and not slowing down like it normally would. The pilot attempted to keep the aircraft on the runway centerline by applying full left rudder. Subsequently, the pilot lost directional control as the airplane spun perpendicular to the runway. The nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane came to rest on the runway. The pilot reported that he was not sure if the green gear down indicator lights were illuminated prior to landing. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower skins, stringers, and box beams on the fuselage. After the airplane was recovered from the runway, the pilot noticed the landing gear circuit breaker was tripped. Upon resetting the circuit breaker, the landing gear lowered and locked in the down position. Postaccident examination did not reveal why the circuit breaker had tripped. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7085P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7085P), registered now, S/N 24-2238, built 1961 (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: 24-2238 - Year built: 1961 - Airframe hours: 4435 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-A1D5 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 23, 2025, 45.7 hours before - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: 3CM, James Clements Municipal Airport, runway 18, 3,798 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, Handheld GPS, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 77; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 24, 2024; seat: left; flight hours: 5,822 total, 3,500 in this make and model, 5,092.5 as pilot in command, 10.7 in the last 90 days, 1.2 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: KMBS, 8 nm away - METAR: KMBS 081953Z AUTO 16011KT 10SM CLR 10/03 A2987 ## 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 20260108001259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260108001259A), Jan 8, 2026: Piper PA-24-250, Bay City, MI, Substantial damage. On January 8, 2026, at approximately 14:41 EST the pilot in command (PIC) was flying a Piper comanche, registration number [privacy data omitted] for skill… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 12, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202285. 6.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 4.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19885018&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN26LA089%20NTSB%206120%20redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19886463&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN26LA089%20Investigation%20Photos%20final-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 99 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19889691&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN26LA089%20NTSB%20MOR%2020261013-Redacted-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.