# NTSB WPR14CA143: Grumman TMB-3E, N53503, Glendale, AZ, March 17, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 17, 2014, 11:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Glendale, AZ - Coordinates: 33.5275, -112.294998 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5275&lon=-112.2950&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi-from runway: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 21, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 88948 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR14CA143 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88948/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88948 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14CA143 ## Probable cause The pilot inadvertently raised the landing gear lever rather than the adjacent flap level while exiting the runway which resulted in the retraction of the left main landing gear. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action selection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman TBM-3E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md?model=3950310), [All aircraft, 397 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: main landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman TBM-3E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md?model=3950310), [All aircraft, 241 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: task monitoring/vigilance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot; cases with it: [Grumman TBM-3E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md?model=3950310), [All aircraft, 330 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi-from runway: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Grumman TBM-3E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=3950310), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that after landing and during the turn onto a taxiway intersection, he inadvertently raised the landing gear lever by mistake, rather than the adjacent flap lever. The left landing gear collapsed, which caused the left wing tip to strike the ground. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented had he waited until he was clear of the runway, stopped, and identified the flap switch. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that after landing and during the turn onto a taxiway intersection, he inadvertently raised the landing gear lever by mistake, rather than the adjacent flap lever. The left landing gear collapsed, which caused the left wing tip to strike the ground. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented had he waited until he was clear of the runway, stopped, and identified the flap switch. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N53503](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N53503), registered now, S/N 53503, built 1948 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GRUMMAN TMB-3E - Registry model: [Grumman TBM-3E](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-tbm-3e) (registry code 3950310) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Wright R-2600 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/wright-r-2600-series) (registry code 67050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 53503 - Year built: 1948 - Airframe hours: 4792 - Engines: Wright R2600-20 1900 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Operator: American Airpower Heritage Flying Museum - Registered owner: American Airpower Heritage Flying Museum - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Limited (Special) - Last inspection: AAIP, March 8, 2014, 3.5 hours before - Departed: LUF, Glendale, AZ - Destination: GEU, Glendale, AZ - Airport: GEU, Glendale Municpal, runway 01, 7,150 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 17, 2014; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 4,377 total, 248 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 76 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: LUF, 3 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). - [Accident 20140317002759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140317002759A), Mar 17, 2014: Grumman TBM-3E, Glendale, AZ, Minor damage. On 03/17/2014, at approximately 1005 MST, N53503, a Grumman TBM-3E landed on runway 1 at the Glendale Municipal Airport (geu) in Glendale, AZ. As the aircraft… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 16, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88948. 3.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40412384&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot’s Statement to FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 290 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40412385&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%E2%80%99s%20Statement%20to%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.