# NTSB LAX83LA294: Piper PA-34-200T, N3ZT, Mesa, AZ, June 21, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 20, 1983, 18:40 local (Jun 21, 1983, 01:40 UTC)
- Place: Mesa, AZ
- Coordinates: 33.429328, -111.710876 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4293&lon=-111.7109&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23758
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX83LA294
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23758/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83LA294

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Main gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)

## Analysis

THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED DURING LANDING. THE PILOT HAD DIFFICULTY GETTING ALL THE LANDING GEAR WARNING LIGHTS TO FUNCTION PROPERLY IN THE PATTERN. AFTER 1 RECYCLE THE GEAR INDICATED DOWN BUT ON ROLLOUT THE LEFT GEAR COLLAPSED. THE PILOT FEATHERED THE LEFT ENGINE AND POSITIONED THE PROPELLER BEFORE THE GEAR FULLY COLLAPSED. THE WARNINGHORN DID NOT BLOW ON FINAL WITH POWER OFF BUT DID SOUND ON THE RWY BEFORE COLLAPSE. ON JACKS THE NEXT DAY THE LANDING GEAR WAS CYCLED ABOUT 20 TIMES WITHOUT MALFUNCTION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3ZT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3ZT-1989-02-02), registration cancelled 1989-02-02, S/N 347770178 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-34-200T
- Registry model: [Piper PA-34-200T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-200t) (registry code 7103406) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 34-7770178
- Airframe hours: 2334
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-360 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Fiesta Airlines
- Registered owner: Levoy D. Adams
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, June 17, 1983, 3 hours before
- Departed: P19, CHANDLER, AZ
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: P16, Falcon Field, runway 22, 4,300 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 27; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 4,230 total, 4,051 as pilot in command, 251 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 95 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: P16

## 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 19830620028399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830620028399A), Jun 20, 1983: Piper PA34200T, Mesa, AZ, Substantial damage. Gear collapsed during landing roll. Pilot claims gear malfunction but inspection afterward revealed no discrepancy.

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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