Piper PA-24-250 N5451P

Summary

On 3 February 2009 at about 00:50 local time, a Piper PA-24-250 registered N5451P was involved in an accident near Mineral Wells, Texas, United States. One person was 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.

Date

3 February 2009 at 00:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Mineral Wells, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Mineral Wells Airport (MWL)

Coordinates

32.7817, -98.0603

Aircraft

Piper PA-24-250

Registration

N5451P

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Mineral Wells → Mineral Wells

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

CEN09CA169

Nobody was injured.

The failure of the airframe and power plant mechanic to ensure proper lubrication of wire cables in the landing gear system during the annual inspection which precluded safe operation of the landing gear system.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

While departing the airport, the airplane's landing gear system failed to fully retract when actuated by the private pilot. Several attempts were made by the pilot to fully lower the landing gear, including the use of the "emergency landing gear system." The pilot elected to return to the airport and land in the grass parallel to the runway. During the landing the airplane's firewall was damaged. An inspection conducted on the airplane revealed that the wire cables which operate the landing gear were insufficiently lubricated during the previous annual inspection which was accomplished 18 days prior to the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.