# NTSB LAX94LA314: Piper PA-28R-200, N4374X, Fresno, CA, August 11, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 11, 1994, 09:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Fresno, CA - Coordinates: 36.750476, -119.670265 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.7505&lon=-119.6703&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 12, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28822 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX94LA314 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28822/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94LA314 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the aircraft resulting in a ground loop/swerve and a subsequent overload failure of the right main landing gear. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - not corrected, pilot in command (cause) - Main gear collapsed, landing - roll - landing gear,main gear attachment - overload - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - runway light ## Analysis THE PILOT SAID HE WAS ON THE LANDING GROUND ROLL AND BEGAN APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE AIRCRAFT STARTED PULLING TO THE LEFT AND THE PILOT COULD NOT MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WITH FULL RIGHT RUDDER AND BRAKE. THE PILOT SAID THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO SLIDE AND THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS EXAMINED BY AN FAA AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTOR WHO SAID HE DID NOT FIND ANY UNUSUAL HEAT SIGNATURES ON THE BRAKE DISKS, NOR ANY EVIDENCE OF A BRAKE SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. THERE WERE NO FLAT SPOTS ON EITHER OF THE MAIN TIRES AND ALL THREE TIRES EXHIBITED EVIDENCE OF SKID ABRASION 90 DEGREES TO THE TREAD. ABRASION MARKS ORIENTED 90 DEGREES TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS WERE OBSERVED UNDER THE RIGHT WING. THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR WAS COLLAPSED WITH THE EXTEND/RETRACT ROD END BROKEN AND THE ASSOCIATED SUPPORT BRACKET RIPPED OUT OF THE FORWARD SPAR. THE NOSE GEAR STRUT WAS FOUND BENT ABOUT 15 DEGREES TO THE LEFT. COMPLETE CONTINUITY WAS ESTABLISHED BETWEEN THE COCKPIT RUDDER PEDALS AND THE NOSE GEAR STEERING COLLAR. ## Factual narrative On August 11, 1994, at 0930 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA28R- 200, N4374X, sustained a main landing gear collapse following a loss of directional control on landing at the Fresno, California, airport. The aircraft slid off the runway and collided with runway lights, damaging the right wing and horizontal stabilizer. The aircraft was owned and operated by the pilot and was on a personal cross-country flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated at Carlsbad, California, on the morning of the accident at 0720 hours with an intended destination of Fresno. In his written statement, the pilot reported that he was on the landing ground roll when he began applying the brakes. The aircraft started pulling to the left and the pilot could not maintain directional control with full right rudder and brake. The pilot stated that the aircraft began to slide and the right main gear collapsed. The aircraft was examined by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector from the Fresno, California, Flight Standards District Office. The inspector reported that he did not find any unusual heat signatures on the brake disks, nor did he report any evidence of a brake system malfunction. There were no flat spots on either of the main tires and all three tires exhibited evidence of skid abrasion 90 degrees to the tread. Abrasion marks oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis were observed under the right wing. The right main landing gear was collapsed with the extend/retract rod end broken and the associated support bracket ripped out of the forward spar. The nose gear strut was found bent about 15 degrees to the left. Complete continuity was established between the cockpit rudder pedals and the nose gear steering collar. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4374X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4374X), registered now, S/N 28R-7635030, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R-200 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200) (registry code 7102811) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28R-7635030 - Airframe hours: 3232 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-C1C 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Richard W. Winegarden - Registered owner: Richard W. Winegarden - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 7, 1994, 27 hours before - Departed: CRQ, CARLSBAD, CA - Destination: FAT - Airport: FAT, Fresno Air Terminal, runway 29L, 7,206 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 430 total, 332 in this make and model, 360 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: FAT, 1 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 19940811021159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940811021159A), Aug 11, 1994: Piper PA28R200, Fresno, CA, Substantial damage. Lost directional control landing. Swerved sharply. Skidded sideways collapsing right main gear. Bent nose gear. 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.