# NTSB LAX05CA181: Piper PA-28R-200, N55069, Tucson, AZ, May 15, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 14, 2005, 18:00 local (May 15, 2005, 01:00 UTC) - Place: Tucson, AZ - Coordinates: 32.135833, -111.174446 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.1358&lon=-111.1744&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 13, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 61565 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX05CA181 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61565/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05CA181 ## Probable cause the improper flare by an undetermined crewmember, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare - improper, unknown (cause) - terrain condition - runway ## Analysis During the instructional flight in which landings were practiced, one or more touchdowns was firm, and the left wing sustained structural damage. The flight instructor stated that he had performed a total of 15-16 landings in the plane that day with two different students. The purpose of the second flight was to practice short field and 180-degree power off landings for the student's commercial practical exam. The 10th landing of that flight was a 180-degree power off landing that the CFI was demonstrating. He made a touch-and-go following a landing on the 1000-foot markers, and raised the landing gear after obtaining a positive rate of climb. After the gear were raised, the landing gear transition light was still illuminated. He cycled the gear a few more times without solving the problem. They made a full stop and both pilots visually inspected the gear. They could not find anything wrong with the switches and deferred the problem to maintenance. Maintenance personnel examined the gear system and found wing ribs buckled near the left main gear. This prevented the up-limit switch from closing, which prevented the light from functioning normally. They stated that either a hard landing or a landing with excessive side loading could have caused the damage. ## Factual narrative On May 14, 2005, about 1800 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-28R-200, N55069, landed hard at the Ryan Field Airport, Tucson, Arizona. International Airline Training Academy was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The certified flight instructor (CFI) and the pilot undergoing instruction (PUI) were not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The instructional local flight departed Tucson about 1500. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. In a written statement, the CFI stated that he had performed a total of 15-16 landings in the airplane that day with two different students. The purpose of the second flight was to practice short field and 180-degree power off landings for the PUI's commercial practical exam. The 10th landing of that flight was a 180-degree power off landing that the CFI was demonstrating. He made a touch-and-go following a landing on the 1,000-foot markers, and raised the landing gear after obtaining a positive rate of climb. After the gear were raised, the landing gear transition light was still illuminated. He cycled the gear a few more times without solving the problem. They made a full stop landing and both pilots visually inspected the gear. They could not find anything wrong with the switches and deferred the problem to maintenance. Maintenance personnel examined the gear system and found wing ribs buckled near the left main gear. This prevented the up-limit switch from closing, which prevented the light from functioning normally. They stated that either a hard landing or a landing with excessive side loading could have caused the damage. The CFI stated that the airplane had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight. A determination was not made regarding the identity of the crewmember that made the hard landing in the training airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N55069](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N55069), registered now, S/N 28R-7335177, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28R-200 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200) (registry code 7102811) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28R-7335177 - Airframe hours: 7942 - Engines: Lycoming I0-360-C1C 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: International Airline Training Academy, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 1, 2005, 100 hours before - Departed: RYN, Tucson, AZ - Destination: RYN, Tucson, AZ - Airport: RYN, Ryan Field Airport, runway 06R, 5,500 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 26; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1; last flight review November 1, 2004; seat: right; flight hours: 419 total, 23 in this make and model, 94 in the last 90 days, 66 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; age 25; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1; last flight review October 1, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 249 total, 21 in this make and model, 170 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 13 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 29.75 inHg - Observed at: RYN ## 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 20050514013199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050514013199A), May 14, 2005: Piper PA28R200, Tucson, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) On climb out after touch and go landing at Ryan airfield (ryn), Tucson, Arizona; the landing gear switch was placed in the up position, after gear cycled… ## Other investigations on N55069 (1) 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 NYC79FFA13](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC79FFA13), Feb 13, 1979: Piper PA-28R (N55069), Utica, NY, substantial damage 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.