# NTSB OAK74FVM12: Piper PA-30, N7959Y, Watsonville, CA, October 26, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: October 26, 1973
- Place: Watsonville, CA · WATSONVILLE, CA
- Location: 36.9236° N, 121.7724° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Watsonville, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.9236&lon=-121.7724&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 20, 1974
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 187804
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK74FVM12
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK74FVM12

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4003  73/10/26   WATSONVILLE,CALIF   PIPER PA-30         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1600                    N7959Y              PX-  0  0  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  AGE 40, 8495 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            452 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - WATSONVILLE
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          FRESNO,CALIF                WATSONVILLE,CALIF
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           GEAR RETRACTED                                           LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           AIRFRAME - LANDING GEAR: NORMAL RETRACTION/EXTENSION ASSEMBLY
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - MATERIAL FAILURE
        REMARKS- LANDING GEAR RETRACT ARM PN21012-03 FAILED
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7959Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7959Y-2003-08-19), registration cancelled 2003-08-19, S/N 30-1056, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-30
- Registry model: [Piper PA-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30) (registry code 7103002) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Watsonville

## 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 19731026036859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19731026036859A), Oct 26, 1973: Piper PA30, Watsonville, CA, Substantial damage. Landing gear retract arm PN21012-03 failed

## Other investigations on N7959Y (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 FTW89LA109](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW89LA109), Jun 6, 1989: Piper PA-30 (N7959Y), Bristow, OK, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FUEL MANAGEMENT AND FAILURE OF THE INFLIGHT RESTART ATTEMPT.

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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