# NTSB OAK73DVA66: Piper PA-24, N8559P, Merced, CA, June 23, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: June 23, 1973
- Place: Merced, CA · MERCED, CA
- Location: 37.3114° N, 120.4704° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Merced, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3114&lon=-120.4704&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 13, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 190004
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK73DVA66
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK73DVA66

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2231  73/6/23    MERCED,CALIF        PIPER PA-24         CR-  0  0  2  INSTRUCTIONAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1400                    N8559P              PX-  0  0  0  DUAL                      AGE 61, 20493 TOTAL
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            HOURS, 527 IN TYPE,
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - MERCED
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          MERCED,CALIF                LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           WHEELS-UP                                                LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           DUAL STUDENT - FAILED TO ASSURE THE GEAR WAS DOWN AND LOCKED
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE SUPERVISION OF FLIGHT
        FACTOR(S)
           AIRFRAME - LANDING GEAR: LANDING GEAR WARNING AND INDICATING COMPONENTS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - CIRCUIT BREAKER POPPED
        REMARKS- GR HANDLE DN. GR MOTOR AND SAFE LIGHT CKT BKR POPPED. GR WARNING HORN INOP ON PREVIOUS LDGS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8559P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8559P), registered now, S/N 24-4016, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24
- Registry model: [Piper PA-24-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-260) (registry code 7102406) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Merced

## 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 19730623017479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730623017479A), Jun 23, 1973: Piper PA24400, Merced, CA, Substantial damage. Gr handle dn. Gr motor and safe light ckt bkr popped. Gr warning horn inop on previous ldgs.

## Other investigations on N8559P (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 OAK73DVA56](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK73DVA56), Apr 26, 1973: Piper PA-24 (N8559P), Los Banos, CA, substantial damage
- [NTSB SEA70F0071](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA70F0071), Aug 20, 1969: Piper PA-24 (N8559P), Grangeville, ID, 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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