# NTSB MIA89LA089: Piper PA-32R-300, N4303X, Fort Lauderdale, FL, February 18, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 18, 1989, 12:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place: Fort Lauderdale, FL
- Coordinates: 26.090356, -80.150833 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.0904&lon=-80.1508&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 12, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32401
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA89LA089
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32401/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA89LA089

## Probable cause

FAULTY INSTALLATION OF AVIONICS EQUIPMENT WHICH CAUSED WIRING IN THE LANDING GEAR SYSTEM TO BE IMPROPERLY REINSTALLED.

## Sequence of events

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

- Gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,normal retraction/extension assembly - incorrect (cause)
  - maintenance,installation - improper, other maintenance personnel (cause)
  - electrical system,circuit breaker - popped/tripped
  - landing gear,gear indicating system - inoperative
  - landing gear,gear warning system - inoperative
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - runway light (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT SAID THAT AS THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN THE LEFT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED. HE PERFORMED AN ABORTED LANDING. THE TOWER REPORTED THAT THE GEAR APPEARED DOWN. UPON TOUCHDOWN THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRCRAFT SLID OFF THE RUNWAY. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED A LOOSE LANDING GEAR WIRING BLOCK. WHEN THE THROTTLE WAS RETARDED THE LANDING GEAR CIRCUIT BREAKER WOULD POP, SHUTTING OFF THE HYDRAULIC PUMP, THE GEAR POSITION LIGHTS, AND THE WARNING HORN. WHEN WEIGHT WAS PUT ON THE GEAR THE ABSENCE OF HYDRAULIC PRESSURE PERMITTED THE GEAR TO COLLAPSE. THIS WAS THE FIRST FLIGHT AFTER A NON-RECORDED LORAN INSTALLATION WAS PERFORMED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4303X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4303X-1997-11-19), registration cancelled 1997-11-19, S/N 32R7680008 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32R-300
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32R-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-300) (registry code 7103213) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 32R-7680008
- Airframe hours: 3331
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-K1A5D 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Garlock, Frank W.
- Registered owner: Sullivan, Dana R.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 29, 1988, 143 hours before
- Departed: TPA, TAMPA, FL
- Destination: FLL, FORT LAUDERDALE, FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: Ft. Lauderdale Int'L, runway 13, 6,928 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,185 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 3,000 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 110° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: FLL

## 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 19890218002239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890218002239A), Feb 18, 1989: Piper PA32R300, Ft Lauderdale, FL, Substantial damage. Left gear collapsed on touchdown. Went around and right gear collapsed. Gear circuit block loose and shorting out.

## Other investigations on N4303X (1)

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 LAX96FA226](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX96FA226), Jun 7, 1996: Piper PA-32R-300 (N4303X), Goleta, CA, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: failure of the flying pilot to maintain control of the airplane, due to spatial disorientation, which resulted in an uncontrolled descent and collision with the water. Factors relating to the…

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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