Piper PA-44-180 N39776
12 November 1990 · Prescott, Arizona, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 12 November 1990 at about 18:03 local time, a Piper PA-44-180 registered N39776, operated by Embry Riddle University, was involved in an accident near Prescott, Arizona, United States. 3 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 18:03
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Prescott, Arizona, United States
- Nearest airport
- Prescott (PRC)
- Coordinates
- 34.6196, -112.4208
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-44-180
- Registration
- N39776
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- Embry Riddle University
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX91LA028
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Probable cause
THE FAILURE OF THE MAIN LANDING GEAR TRUNION ATTACH FITTING FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE AIRCRAFT WAS PERFORMING A NORMAL LANDING WHEN THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR STRUT FAILED ON TOUCH DOWN. THE STUDENT AND THE INSTRUCTOR WERE ABLE TO AFFECT A REJECTED LANDING. THE INSTRUCTOR FLEW THE AIRCRAFT AROUND THE LOCAL AREA FOR THREE HOURS AND FORTY FIVE MINUTES TO BURN THE FUEL LOAD DOWN. THE AIRCRAFT WAS THEN LANDED GEAR UP AT PRESCOTT. DURING THE REJECTED LANDING, THE WITNESSES OBSERVED THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR HANGING FROM THE AIRCRAFT BY THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINE. DURING THE TIME THE AIRCRAFT WAS FLOWN AROUND THE LOCAL AREA, THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR FELL FREE FROM THE AIRCRAFT. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED THAT THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR STRUT FAILED AT THE TRUNION ATTACH FITTING. THE LANDING GEAR ASSEMBLY AND THE ASSOCIATED ATTACH FITTINGS WERE NOT LOCATED FOR A DETAILED EXAMINATION OF THE FAILURE MODE.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Piper PA-44 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Apr 1990 | Piper PA-44-180 | Stuart, Florida, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 28 May 1990 | Piper PA-44-180 | Bunnell, Florida, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 19 Dec 1990 | Piper PA-44-180 | Sanford, Florida, United States | Comair Aviation Academy | No injuries | - |
| 9 May 1989 | Piper PA-44-180 | Fort Pierce, Florida, United States | Flight Safety International | Fatal | 3 |
| 4 Feb 1989 | Piper PA-44-180 | Bunnell, Florida, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 23 Aug 1989 | Piper PA-44-180 | St Augustine, Florida, United States | First Coast Flight Center, Inc | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 Apr 1990 | Piper PA-28-161 | Chandler, Arizona, United States | Chandler Air Service | No injuries | - |
| 26 Apr 1990 | Cessna 120 | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | James R. Ohlin | No injuries | - |
| 7 Jun 1990 | Bellanca 8KCAB | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | Kindel, Charles E. | Fatal | 1 |
| 24 Oct 1990 | Beechcraft F33A | Mobile, Arizona, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 30 Apr 1990 | Cessna 182L | Bullhead City, Arizona, United States | Unregistered | No injuries | - |
| 1 May 1990 | Piper PA30 | Sedona, Arizona, United States | Haaf, TOM | No injuries | - |