Piper PA-24-250 accident near Columbia, South Carolina, June 4, 1995
On June 4, 1995 at about 2:29 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-250, registered N7392P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Columbia, South Carolina (Columbia Metro Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE MISALIGNMENT OF THE NOSE GEAR CENTERING TRACK AND ROLLER ASSEMBLIES WHICH PRECLUDED LANDING GEAR EXTENSION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 4, 1995 · about 2:29 pm local time
- Place
- Columbia, South Carolina · Columbia Metro Airport
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-250 · all PA-24-250s on the register
- Registration
- N7392P · registry record · serial 24-2576
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO LOWER THE LANDING GEAR, THE PILOT ELECTED TO MAKE A GEAR UP LANDING. EXAMINATION OF THE NOSE GEAR RETRACTION AND EXTENSION SYSTEM FAILED TO DISCLOSE A MATERIAL FAILURE. THE EXAMINATION OF THE NOSE GEAR DISCLOSED THAT THE ROLLER ALIGNER ASSEMBLY WAS DISPLACED OUTSIDE OF THE CENTERING TRACK, AND THE NOSE GEAR RETRACTED INTO THE WHEEL WELL AT AN ANGLE. NO NOSE GEAR ASSEMBLY COMPONENT SHOWED EXCESSIVE WEAR OR FRACTURES.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 280 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-A1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FDW Winnsboro SC at 2:45 pm
- Destination: CAE
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 5, 7,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:58 pm from CAE
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.