Mammoth Lakes Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Mammoth Lake, California 93546
Thursday, March 30, 2006 9:00 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The commercial certificated pilot was conducting a cross-country flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91. The pilot said when he arrived at his destination airport, he did not get a green down and locked light for the landing gear, and elected to go-around. He said he cycled the landing gear up and down twice, saw the green down and locked light both times, and proceeded to land. He reported that upon touchdown, the right main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane exited the right side of the runway and struck a snowbank. The pilot stated that there were no known preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. Postaccident inspection of the airplane by an independent aviation mechanic hired to repair the airplane, disclosed that the main landing gear maintenance did not appear to be in compliance with an applicable FAA airworthiness directive (AD), AD 77-13-21, Amendment 39-3093, effective December 16, 1977. That AD defines the actions/inspections necessary to maintain the landing gear in an airworthy condition, and to preclude a malfunction or collapse. A review of the airplane's maintenance logbooks indicated only partial compliance with the AD. The aviation mechanic repairing the airplane said that numerous landing gear components were worn well beyond the limits set forth in the AD and associated service letter.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The collapse of the right main landing gear during landing, which resulted in a loss of directional control and an on-ground encounter with a snowbank. A factor associated with the accident was other maintenance personnel's inadequate inspection of the landing gear system.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/30/2006
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 900
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City Mammoth Lake
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 93546
Event Date Year 2006
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 373726N
Event Location Longitude 1185016W
Event Location Airport Mammoth Lakes
Event Location Nearest Airport ID KMMH
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 7300
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -1
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.02
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 20930
NTSB Notification Source NTSB Los Angeles
NTSB Notification Date Mar 30 2006 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Feb 26 2007 11:14AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\lema
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Reno

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6744P
NTSB Number ANC06LA041
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed Unknown
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-24-250
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 24-1872
Certified Max Gross Weight 2500
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 1 2005 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 5088
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Edward Esteb
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City El Cajon
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 92021
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code SEE
Departure City San Diego
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 600
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code MMH
Destination City Mammoth Lake
Destination State CA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing - flare/touchdown
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 14 2006 1:03AM
User who most recently changed record STAM
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 27
Runway Length 7000
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --