- Date
- November 21, 1993, 18:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place
- Labelle, FL
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N5755PPiper PA-24-250
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 20, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19931121044459A
- Case key
- 37462
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot-in-command exceeding the structural limits of the airplane's design limits by in-flight over-stress that resulted in damage to the gear extension system, fuselage and control surfaces.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
While in the traffic pattern, normal and emergency attempts to lower the landing gear were unsuccessful. The pilot-in-command then landed intentionally gear up in grass adjacent to the runway and the aircraft slid to a stop, causing minimal damage. Further analysis of wreckage photographs by Piper aircraft proved substantial damage was caused by aerodynamic overloading in the air prior to the landing.
Factual narrative
On November 21, 1993, about 1800 eastern standard time, N5755P, a Piper PA-24-250, registered to the pilot William G. Segur, landed gear up at Labelle Airport, Labelle, Florida, while on a local, personal, 14 CFR Part 91 flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. Review of the wreckage by FAA personnel and Piper Aircraft proved that the damage to the gear extension system, control surfaces and fuselage was caused by in-flight structural overstress. The airplane was substantially damaged and the pilot and one passenger reported no injuries. The flight originated from the same airport about 2 hours earlier.
The pilot stated he could not lower the landing gear by normal or emergency methods and landed intentional gear up in the grass adjacent to the runway. During the landing slide the left horizontal stabilizer broke.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5755P
- Reported as
- Piper PA-24-250
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 24-831
- Engine
- Lycoming O-540, 250 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Segur, William G.
- Registered owner
- Segur, William G.
- Airport
- X14 · Labelle Airport, runway 14, 3,810 × 50 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 49
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Expired
- Flight hours
- 112 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 140° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- PBI, 72 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.