# NTSB LAX93LA127: Piper PA-28-161, N9750K, Bakersfield, CA, February 20, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 20, 1993, 10:15 local (18:15 UTC)
- Place: Bakersfield, CA
- Coordinates: 35.200702, -118.859306 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2007&lon=-118.8593&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 15, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27929
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX93LA127
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27929/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX93LA127

## Probable cause

THE OVERLOAD FAILURE OF THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR STRUT ATTACH BOLTS DUE TO A HARD LANDING.  THE HARD LANDING WAS THE RESULT OF THE STUDENT MISJUDGING THE LANDING FLARE, AND, THE INADEQUATE SUPERVISION OF THE FLIGHT BY THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - misjudged, dual student (cause)
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
- Main gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - landing gear,main gear attachment - overload (cause)
  - landing gear,main gear attachment - failure,total (cause)

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR, THE DUAL PRIMARY INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT DEPARTED THE AIRPORT AND PERFORMED SOME AIRWORK IN A NEARBY PRACTICE AREA THEN RETURNED TO DO SOME TOUCH AND GO TRAFFIC PATTERN OPERATIONS. ON THE THIRD TOUCH AND GO LANDING ROLL, HE SAID 'I DEPRESSED THE BRAKES AND FELT AND HEARD THE RIGHT LANDING GEAR 'GIVE.'' THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED, PUNCTURING THE WING WITH THE STRUT. GROUND BASED WITNESSES AT THE AIRPORT REPORTED THAT ON THE SECOND TOUCH AND GO PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT MADE A 'VERY NOTICEABLE HARD LANDING.' THE AIRCRAFT WAS EXAMINED BY AN FAA AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTOR WHO REPORTED THAT THE BOLTS WHICH SECURE THE LANDING GEAR STRUT TO THE WING SPAR APPEARED TO HAVE FAILED IN SHEAR.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9750K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9750K-2010-01-12), registration cancelled 2010-01-12, S/N 28-7816192 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-161
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-7816192
- Airframe hours: 4631
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D3G 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: S & S Flight Center
- Registered owner: Sherry Matteucci
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, January 2, 1993, 41 hours before
- Departed: L45
- Destination: L45
- Airport: L45, Bakersfield Municipal, runway 34, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 826 total, 576 in this make and model, 772 as pilot in command, 72 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: BFL, 6 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 19930220003069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930220003069A), Feb 20, 1993: Piper PA28161, Bakersfield, CA, Substantial damage. Collapsed right main landing gear on a hard landng. Strut came out top of wing.

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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