# NTSB MIA86IA069: Piper PA-60, N9784Q, Folkston, GA, February 2, 1986

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: February 1, 1986, 19:45 local (Feb 2, 1986, 00:45 UTC)
- Place: Folkston, GA
- Coordinates: 30.830698, -81.999023 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.8307&lon=-81.9990&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31523
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA86IA069
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31523/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA86IA069

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,main gear strut - failure,total (cause)
- Main gear collapsed, landing - roll

## Analysis

THE PLT STATED THAT WHILE ON A FLIGHT FROM TAMPA, TO JACKSONVILLE FL, HE MADE AN UNAUTHORIZED DEVIATION & LANDED AT DAVIS FIELD FOLKSTON GA, WHERE THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED. POST CRASH EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT REVEALED THAT THE GEAR COLLAPSED DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR OUTBOARD RETRACT STRUT ASS'Y.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9784Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9784Q-2023-03-25), registration cancelled 2023-03-25, S/N 60-0416-143 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-60
- Registry model: [Smith AEROSTAR 600](https://openairdocs.org/model/smith-aerostar-600) (registry code 8360602) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 60-0416-143
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-KIF5 290 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Top Flight Air Serivce
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: X16, TAMPA, FL
- Destination: JAX, JACKSONVILLE, FL
- Airport: 3J6, Davis Field, runway 35, 2,500 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 26; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 2,189 total, 245 in this make and model, 1,298 as pilot in command, 205 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: JAX, 20 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).

- [Incident 19860201034409I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860201034409I), Feb 1, 1986: Piper PA60600, Folkston, GA, Minor damage. Left gear retract strut assembly suffered an overload fracture on landing. Left gear folded outwards.

## Other investigations on N9784Q (3)

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 ERA22FA351](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22FA351), Aug 2, 2022: Smith Aerostar 600 (N9784Q), South Haven Charter Township, MI, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: A loss of power to the left engine due to contamination of the fuel system. Contributing to the accident was the pilots’ failure to properly configure the airplane for flight with one engine…
- [NTSB MIA87IA246](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA87IA246), Sep 16, 1987: Piper PA-60 (N9784Q), W.Palm Beach, FL, incident, minor damage
- [NTSB FTW78FRG22](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW78FRG22), Jan 21, 1978: Aerostar 601 (N9784Q), San Antonio, TX, 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.

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