# NTSB LAX85LA289: Piper PA-24-250, N5916P, Lincoln, CA, June 24, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 23, 1985, 21:02 local (Jun 24, 1985, 04:02 UTC)
- Place: Lincoln, CA
- Coordinates: 38.929336, -121.25064 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9293&lon=-121.2506&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 5 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24751
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX85LA289
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24751/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX85LA289

## Sequence of events

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

- Gear collapsed, landing
  - gear extension - initiated, pilot in command
  - light condition - dusk (contributing factor)
  - gear down and locked - not identified, pilot in command
  - landing gear,emergency extension assembly - other
  - emergency procedure - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of familiarity with aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - gear down and locked - not attained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

DURING ARRIVAL AT DUSK, THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO LOWER THE LANDING GEAR, BUT DID NOT OBSERVE A GEAR DOWM LIGHT INDICATION. HE RECYCLED THE GEAR SEVERAL TIMES, THEN UTILIZED THE EMERGENCY GEAR EXTENTION SYS. HE STATED THAT WHEN HE USED THE EXTENTION SYS, HE RELEASED THE ELECTRIC GEAR MOTOR, THEN EXTENDED THE TELESCOPIC EMERGENCY ARM REARWARD. HOWEVER, THE ARM SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE FORWARD POSITION TO LOWER THE GEAR. ALSO, THE INVESTIGATOR NOTED THAT WHEN THE NAV LIGHTS WERE TURNED ON, THE GREEN GEAR DOWN & AMBER GEAR UP LIGHTS WOULD HAVE AUTOMATICALLY DIMMED. SUBSEQUENTLY, WHEN THE PLT LANDED, THE GEAR COLLAPSED, A FIRE ERUPTED & THE ACFT WAS DESTROYED. NO PRE-ACCIDENT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND DURING THE INVESTIGATION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5916P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5916P-1990-02-20), registration cancelled 1990-02-20, S/N 241003 (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)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 24-1003
- Airframe hours: 2722
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540 250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Mario J. Menard
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 1985
- Departed: Q95, RUTH, CA
- Airport: 051, Lincoln Muni, runway 33, 6,000 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 448 total, 41 in this make and model, 402 as pilot in command, 41 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F

## 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 19850623027099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850623027099A), Jun 23, 1985: Piper PA24250, Lincoln, CA, Destroyed. Pilot did not get safe gear light due to nav lights being on. Improper manual gear extension. Collapsed on landing.

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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