# NTSB MIA85LA257: Piper PA-24-260, N9213P, Leesburg, FL, September 16, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 16, 1985, 15:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place: Leesburg, FL
- Location: 28.8229° N, 81.8084° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at LEESBURG INTL (LEE), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.8229&lon=-81.8084&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31453
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA85LA257
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31453/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA85LA257

## Sequence of events

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

- Complete gear collapsed, taxi - to takeoff
  - gear retraction - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED HE WAS TAXIING ON A SMOOTH ASPHALT TAXIWAY IN PREPARATION FOR TAKEOFF WHEN THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED. A POST- ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF LANDING GEAR FAILED TO REVEAL ANY MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE THAT WOULD HAVE PRECLUDED NORMAL OPERATION OF THE SYSTEM.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9213P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9213P-1989-08-02), registration cancelled 1989-08-02, S/N 244709 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Piper PA-24-260
- Registry model: [Piper PA-24-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-260) (registry code 7102406) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 24-4709
- Airframe hours: 2126
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-D4A5 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Allen A. Adams
- Registered owner: Florida Lakes Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 14, 1985, 1 hours before
- Destination: OCF, OCALA, FL
- Airport: LEE, Leesburg

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 688 total, 17 in this make and model, 571 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 80° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ORL

## 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 19850916045479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850916045479A), Sep 16, 1985: Piper PA24260, Leesburg, FL, Substantial damage. Right main landing gear collapsed during taxi, followed by left main and nose gear. No mechanical malfunction found

## Other investigations on N9213P (2)

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.

- [NTSB ANC89LA088](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC89LA088), Jun 10, 1989: Piper PA-24 (N9213P), Naked Island, AK, destroyed. Probable cause: ENGINE FAILURE FOR AN UNKNOWN REASON.
- [NTSB CHI70D0229](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI70D0229), Sep 11, 1969: Piper PA-24 (N9213P), Onstead, MI, substantial damage

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.