# NTSB WPR26LA107: Piper PA-30, N811LE, Big Bear, CA, February 24, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: February 23, 2026, 18:00 local (Feb 24, 2026, 02:00 UTC)
- Place: Big Bear, CA · airport environment
- Coordinates: 34.263778, -116.85602 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2638&lon=-116.8560&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 202498
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26LA107
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202498/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA107

## Preliminary report

On February 23, 2026, at 1800 Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-30, N811LE, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Big Bear, California. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported an uneventful flight from Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport (MYF), San Diego, California, to Big Bear City Airport (L35), Big Bear, California. Upon arrival at L35, the pilot extended the landing gear and saw that the nose landing gear was extended down, but the green landing gear light was not illuminated. After touchdown, the landing gear collapsed, and the airplane slid down the runway, which resulted in damage to the fuselage undercarriage. The airplane was recovered to a secure facility for further examination.

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N811LE](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N811LE), registered now, S/N 30-1224, 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
- Serial number: 30-1224
- Year built: 1966
- Airframe hours: 6065
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 7, 2025
- Departed: MYF, San Diego, CA
- Destination: Same as departure
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: L35, Big Bear City, runway 08/26, 5,850 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: ADS-B, Auto-pilot

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter: 30.33 inHg
- Observed at: KL35
- METAR: METAR KL35 240155Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 06/M03 A3033 RMK AO2

## 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 20260223001569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260223001569A), Feb 23, 2026: Piper PA-30, Big Bear, CA, Substantial damage. On February 23, 2026 at 1759 PST a Piper PA-30 experienced a landing gear collapse during landing at Big Bear city airport (L35), it slid to a stop on the…

## Other investigations on N811LE (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 MIA81DKJ02](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA81DKJ02), Oct 14, 1980: Piper PA-30 (N811LE), Destin, FL, 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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