Mahlon Sweet Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Eugene, Oregon 97402
Friday, May 11, 2007 16:15 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

As he approached the destination airport, the pilot placed the landing gear selector in the down position, but the gear initially did not extend. He reset the electric gear motor's circuit breaker and the gear extended. The pilot stated that he observed illumination of the landing gear's green position light, and believed that the gear was locked in the down position. The pilot made a normal touchdown, however, seconds later the gear collapsed. An examination of the landing gear extension system revealed it functioned properly when manually extended. Because of impact damage, the gear system could not be electrically operated during the examination. The reason for the gear's failure to fully extend to the locked down position was not determined.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Collapse of the landing gear during landing for undetermined reasons.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/11/2007
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1615
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Eugene
Event State OREGON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 97402
Event Date Year 2007
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 440740N
Event Location Longitude 1231312W
Event Location Airport Mahlon Sweet Field
Event Location Nearest Airport ID EUG
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 369
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1554 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID EUG
Elevation of weather observation facility 369
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 20
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.01
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 4
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 23706
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date May 11 2007 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jun 30 2008 11:48AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Portland, OR

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8170P
NTSB Number LAX07LA158
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-24
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 24-3426
Certified Max Gross Weight 2900
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 Feb 1 2007 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 45
Airframe Hours 3897
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Comanche Cruisers
Aircraft Owner Street Address 5010 Flight Line Drive
Aircraft Owner City Santa Rosa
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 95403
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Eric S. Hyde
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Sebastopol
Operator State CA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 95472
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 STS
Departure City Santa Rosa
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1345
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code EUG
Destination City Eugene
Destination State OR
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing - roll
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record May 28 2008 3:15PM
User who most recently changed record COOS
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 34
Runway Length 8009
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --