# NTSB LAX90LA150: Piper PA46, N4387S, Paso Robles, CA, April 17, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 17, 1990, 11:45 local (18:45 UTC)
- Place: Paso Robles, CA
- Coordinates: 35.609008, -120.75901 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6090&lon=-120.7590&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 23, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26780
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX90LA150
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26780/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX90LA150

## Probable cause

INADEQUATE ALTITUDE FOR PROPER LANDING GEAR EXTENSION; NOT ENSURING THE LANDING GEAR WAS DOWN AND LOCKED; COMPLACENCY OF THE CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR.

## Sequence of events

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

- Main gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - gear down and locked - not attained, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - complacency, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - altitude - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO STATEMENTS FROM ALL THREE INDIVIDUALS ON BOARD, UPON ARRIVING IN THE VICINITY OF PASO ROBLES AIRPORT AT ABOUT 5,800 FEET ABOVE THE AIRPORT, THE INSTRUCTOR SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE TO SIMULATE AN ENGINE FAILURE. THE PILOT BEING TRAINED WAS INSTRUCTED TO GLIDE THE AIRCRAFT TO A SAFE LANDING AT THE AIRPORT. DURING THE SIMULATED EMERGENCY DESCENT, THE PILOT BEING TRAINED ASKED SEVERAL TIMES IF THE GEAR SHOULD NOT BE EXTENDED UNTIL THE TURN FROM BASE TO FINAL WAS BEING MADE. THE WITNESSES ABOARD THE AIRCRAFT FURTHER STATED THAT ON SHORT FINAL, AT A VERY LOW ALTITUDE, THE GEAR WAS LOWERED USING THE EMERGENCY GEAR EXTENSION PROCEDURE. THE LEFT MAIN GEAR DID NOT FULLY EXTEND AND LOCK INTO POSITION PRIOR TO THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHING DOWN ON THE RUNWAY. ON TOUCHDOWN, THE LEFT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED, CAUSING THE LEFT WING TO COLLIDE WITH THE RUNWAY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N4387S (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA46
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 46-8508042
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO 520 BE 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Piper Aircraft Corp.
- Registered owner: Unknown
- Departed: SMX, SANTA MARIA, CA
- Airport: PRB, Paso Robles Muni, runway 31, 4,700 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 64; airline transport, private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 11,020 total, 367 in this make and model, 11,020 as pilot in command, 103 in the last 90 days, 33 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °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 19900417010319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900417010319A), Apr 17, 1990: Piper PA46310P, Paso Robles, CA, Substantial damage. Simulated forced landing idle cutoff. Deployed gear too late via emergency extension,mains collapsed not full down.

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.