# NTSB WPR26LA279: Piper PA-24, N5002P, Medford, OR, July 15, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: July 14, 2026, 17:25 local (Jul 15, 2026, 00:25 UTC)
- Place: Medford, OR
- Coordinates: 42.374965, -122.87328 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3750&lon=-122.8733&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: 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: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 203470
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26LA279
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203470/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA279

## Preliminary report

On July 14, 2026, about 1725 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-24 airplane, N5002P, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at Rogue Valley International/Medford Airport (MFR), Medford. Oregon. The two pilots were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The flight instructor reported that he and the pilot had intended to familiarize themselves with the airplane after it had been purchased by a new owner. Prior to the accident flight, the new airplane owner reported to the flight instructor that the prebuy inspection had identified some landing gear anomalies. Most of the anomalies were addressed during subsequent maintenance with exception of a delayed landing gear annunciation, which they were unable to duplicate. During the accident flight, one of the pilots asked the air traffic controller to observe if the landing gear was down. On the third circuit in the traffic pattern, the pilots heard the landing gear extend; however, the gear indication for the down and locked position did not illuminate. The pilot asked the tower controller to observe the landing gear position again, and the controller confirmed it was down. Nevertheless, about 200 ft - 300 ft above ground level, the landing gear down and lock position light illuminated and the pilot continued the approach and landing. Shortly after touchdown, during the landing roll, the landing gear collapsed and the airplane subsequently came to rest on the runway. Postaccident examination by a FAA inspector revealed that the engine mount sustained substantial damage. The airplane was recovered and retained for further examination.

## Sequence of events

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

- [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-24, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7102402), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5002P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5002P), registered now, S/N 24-5, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24
- Registry model: [Piper PA-24](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24) (registry code 7102402) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 24-5
- Year built: 1957
- Airframe hours: 3951.4
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 2, 2026
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: MFR, runway 32, 8,800 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 320° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 97 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observed at: KMFR
- METAR: METAR KMFR 142353Z 32015G20KT 10SM CLR 36/02 A2996 RMK AO2 SLP130 T03610017 10372 20267 56014

## 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 20260714009329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260714009329A), Jul 14, 2026: Piper PA-24, Medford, OR, Substantial damage. Aircraft departed mfr at approximately 2351Z on 7-14-26 with two pilots on board. One pilot was rated for the aircraft and the other held a private pilot…

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.