# NTSB ERA21LA251: Piper PA-24, N5779P, Monticello, NY, June 5, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: June 5, 2021, 16:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place: Monticello, NY
- Coordinates: 41.701639, -74.795028 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7016&lon=-74.7950&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 103258
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA251
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103258/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103258
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA251

## Probable cause

The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection which resulted in a failure of the right main landing gear tire on landing rollout, a subsequent loss of directional control, and landing gear collapse.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Object/animal/substance: debris/dirt/foreign object](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022055): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-24, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022055/cases.md?model=7102402), [All aircraft, 101 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022055/cases.md)
- [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-24, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=7102402), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md)
- [Landing gear system: tube](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023245): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure; cases with it: [Piper PA-24, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023245/cases.md?model=7102402), [All aircraft, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023245/cases.md)
- [Landing gear system: tire casing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023244): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure; cases with it: [Piper PA-24, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023244/cases.md?model=7102402), [All aircraft, 36 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023244/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Prior to flight: Preflight or dispatch event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030); cases with it: [Piper PA-24, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md?model=7102402), [All aircraft, 355 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-24, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102402), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Piper PA-24, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7102402), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot was approaching the runway for landing and stated that the initial touchdown and landing roll were uneventful. After the first 100 ft, the airplane began to pull to the left, and the right main landing gear collapsed. The pilot said that during a postaccident examination of the right main landing gear, he discovered a small nail that had punctured the tire and innertube. An examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed the horizontal stabilizer and empennage had been substantially damaged during the accident sequence. The FAA inspector also confirmed the punctured tire and innertube. Additionally, the FAA inspector discovered nails on the pilot’s hangar floor that were identical to the nail that was found in the airplane’s tire.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5779P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5779P), registered now, S/N 24-858, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24
- Registry model: [Piper PA-24](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24) (registry code 7102402) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 24-858
- Year built: 1959
- Airframe hours: 2318
- Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 2, 2020, 55 hours before
- Departed: MSV, Wurtsboro, NY
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: KMSV, Sullivan County Airport, runway 33, 6,293 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Electronic multifunction display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 27, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 113 total, 28 in this make and model, 56 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 9 knots, gusting 13
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 9,000 ft broken
- Observed at: MSV

## 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 20210605006809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210605006809A), Jun 5, 2021: Piper PA-24, Monticello, NY, Substantial damage. Pilot approached runway 33 at msv. Upon touchdown the right main tire was found to be deflated. Loss of directional control occurred which resulted in right…

## Other investigations on N5779P (2)

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 MIA77FKJ83](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA77FKJ83), Sep 17, 1977: Piper PA-24 (N5779P), Birmingham, AL, substantial damage
- [NTSB MIA71FKG56](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA71FKG56), Jan 7, 1971: Piper PA-24 (N5779P), Macon, GA, substantial damage

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 1, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103258. 28.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 26.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12470110&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=LA251%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Record of conversation -FAA inspector (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 148 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12470358&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20Inspector%20Travis%20Costello%20LA251-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12469720&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20LA251-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.

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