# NTSB LAX81FVA36: Piper PA-18, N4346Z, Fresno, CA, April 22, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: April 22, 1981
- Place: Fresno, CA · FRESNO, CA
- Location: 36.7477° N, 119.7724° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Fresno, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.7477&lon=-119.7724&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 20, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 126162
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX81FVA36
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81FVA36

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0626  81/4/22    FRESNO,CA           PIPER PA-18         CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 57, 12000
        TIME - 1130                    N4346Z              PX-  0  0  0  POWER/PIPELINE            TOTAL HOURS, 2100 IN
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - FRESNO CHANDLER
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          LOS BANOS,CA                FRESNO,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           GEAR COLLAPSED                                           TAXI: FROM LANDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           AIRFRAME - LANDING GEAR: MAIN GEAR-SHOCK ABSORBING ASSY,STRUTS,ATTACHMENTS,ETC.
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FATIGUE FRACTURE
        REMARKS- STRUT ASSY ROD,PN 12844-04,FAILED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4346Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4346Z-1989-07-25), registration cancelled 1989-07-25, S/N 188664 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18
- Registry model: [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (registry code 7101828) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Fresno Chandler

## 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 19810422018359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810422018359A), Apr 22, 1981: Piper PA18150, Fresno, CA, Substantial damage. Left main landing gear collapsed while parking aircraft. Found strut broken due to fatigue cracking.

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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