# NTSB LAX07CA178: Piper PA-24-250, N6744P, Mammoth Lakes, CA, May 28, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 28, 2007, 16:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Mammoth Lakes, CA - Coordinates: 37.621112, -118.83583 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6211&lon=-118.8358&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 25, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 65906 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX07CA178 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65906/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07CA178 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to ensure that the runway was clear of other aircraft before takeoff. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, takeoff - aborted - vfr procedures - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - aborted takeoff - performed, pilot in command - object - aircraft moving on ground - Gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown - landing gear,main gear - overload ## Analysis During takeoff from the uncontrolled airport, the pilot saw another airplane on climb out that had taken off on the opposite runway. The accident pilot aborted his takeoff, and landed hard on the runway, collapsing the right main landing gear. ## Factual narrative On May 28, 2007, about 1630 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-24-250, N6744P, had a hard landing during an aborted takeoff at Mammoth Yosemite Airport (MMH), Mammoth Lakes, California. The owner/pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The commercial pilot and one passenger were not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The cross-country personal flight was departing MMH with a planned destination of San Diego, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The approximate global positioning system (GPS) coordinates of the primary wreckage were 37 degrees 37.27 minutes north latitude and 118 degrees 50.15 minutes west longitude. The pilot stated in a written report that during his run-up he heard a loud squeal on the Unicom, but he then no further transmissions. He decided to depart MMH using runway 09. After he had made his radio transmission on the Unicom frequency stating his intentions to use runway 09, he heard no other radio transmissions. After takeoff, he kept the airplane in ground effect to gain airspeed. When he looked forward, he saw another airplane about 20 feet above the ground that he realized had just taken off using runway 27. The accident pilot aborted his takeoff, and on touchdown, he landed hard and the right main landing gear collapsed. The other airplane continued the takeoff without incident. The pilot stated that the airplane and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6744P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6744P), registered now, S/N 24-1872 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-24-250 - 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: 24-1872 - Airframe hours: 3600 - Engines: Lycoming O-540 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: MMH, Mammoth Lakes, CA - Destination: SEE, SAN DIEGO/EL CA, CA - Airport: MMH, Mammoth Lakes, runway 09, 7,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 79; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 1, 2006; seat: left; flight hours: 3,600 total, 3,300 in this make and model, 3,300 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 29.79 inHg - Observed at: BIH, 28 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20070528011259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070528011259A), May 28, 2007: Piper PA24250, Mammoth Lakes, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) The accident pilot was taking off from Mammoth Lakes, CA airport to the east. Shortly after lifting off he saw another aircraft that had just lifted off… ## Other investigations on N6744P (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 ANC06LA041](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC06LA041), Mar 30, 2006: Piper PA-24-250 (N6744P), Mammoth Lake, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The collapse of the right main landing gear during landing, which resulted in a loss of directional control and an on-ground encounter with a snowbank. A factor associated with the accident was other… - [NTSB LAX74OL076](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX74OL076), Apr 21, 1974: Piper PA-24 (N6744P), Mexicali, Mexico, incident, minor 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.