# NTSB IAD78IA112: Piper PA-31, N59911, Washington, DC, September 19, 1978

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: September 19, 1978
- Place: Washington, DC · WASHINGTON, DC
- Location: 38.8951° N, 77.0364° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Washington, DC, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8951&lon=-77.0364&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 6 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 28, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 80059
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD78IA112
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD78IA112

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5-0027  78/9/19    WASHINGTON,DC       PIPER PA-31         CR-  0  0  2  COMMERCIAL                AIRLINE TRANSPORT, AGE
        TIME - 2050                    N59911              PX-  0  0  4  COMMUTER AIR CARRIER      28, 3800 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-MINOR        OT-  0  0  0  AIR TAXI-PASSG S-D        1100 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        CLASSIFIED AS INCIDENT
        NAME OF AIRPORT - NATIONAL AIRPORT
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          WASHINGTON,DC               BINGHAMTON,NY                ELMIRA,NY
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           GEAR COLLAPSED                                           TAXI: TO TAKEOFF
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           AIRFRAME - LANDING GEAR: WHEELS,TIRES,AXLES
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FATIGUE FRACTURE
        REMARKS- NOSE WHEEL,CLEVELAND P/N 40-76B,BROKE.WHEEL COCKED.RETRACTION ROD BROKE ALLOWING GR TO COLLAPSE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N59911](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N59911-1995-02-01), registration cancelled 1995-02-01, S/N 317552033 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31
- Registry model: [Piper PA-31-350](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-350) (registry code 7103110) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage
- Airport: National Airport

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 19780919019869I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780919019869I), Sep 19, 1978: Piper PA31350, Washington, DC, Substantial damage. Engines started, craft moved forward one foot to check brakes and nose gear collapsed.

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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