Piper PA-28R-200 N55786 accident, Terre Haute, IN, May 20, 1988 · NTSB CHI88LA117

Date: May 20, 1988, 18:37 local (23:37 UTC)
Place: Terre Haute, IN
Injuries: 2 uninjured
Damage: Substantial damage
Phase of flight: Initial climb
Aircraft: N55786Piper PA-28R-200
Weather: Visual (VMC) · Day
Status: Completed · report August 8, 1989
Report: Approved by Office Director
FAA report: 19880520018809A
Case key: 14079

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Airframe/component/system failure/malfunctionTakeoff - initial climb

Hydraulic system,motor - shortedCause

Gear retraction - not possiblePilot in command

Landing gear,gear locking mechanism - contaminationCause

Gear extension - attemptedPilot in command

Landing gear,gear locking mechanism - binding(mechanical)Cause

Emergency procedure - initiatedPilot in command

Maintenance,lubrication - inadequateOther maintenance personnelFactor

Gear collapsedLanding - flare/touchdown

Aircraft

Registration: N55786
Reported as: Piper PA-28R-200
Category: Airplane
Serial number: 28R7335288
Airframe hours: 1,524
Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage: Substantial damage
Flight: Personal · Part 91
Operator: Larry E. Revalle
Registered owner: Larry E Revalee
Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
Last inspection: Annual · April 12, 1988 · 7 hours before
Departed: MTO · Mattoon, IL
Airport: HUF · Hulman Field, runway 13, 5,299 × 150 ft, asphalt

N55786Registered now · Piper PA-28R-200S/N 28R-7335288 · Built 1973 Airframe modelPiper PA-28R-200 Engine modelLycoming I0360 seriesReciprocating

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role: Pilot
Age: 47
Certificate: Private
Airplane ratings: Single-engine land
Medical: Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat: Left
Flight hours: 162 total · 88 in this make and model

Weather

Conditions: Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind: 80° at 7 knots
Visibility: 15 statute miles
Lowest ceiling: None
Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 54 °F
Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Observed at: HUF, 1 nm away

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.

Accident 19880520018809APiper PA28R200 · Terre Haute, INUnable retract gear and unsafe light. No manual lock down. Collapsed landing. Gear motor out. Downlocks not lubed.May 20, 1988 · N55786 · Substantial damage

Other investigations on N55786 · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

NTSB NYC92LA040Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiqua, OHThe pilot allowed the airplane to get too low on short final and struck the terrain short of the runway. Factors in the accident were the proper glide path was not maintained, resulting in the intended touchdown point not being attained.Dec 7, 1991 · Substantial damage