Piper PA-24-250 accident near Mckinney, Texas, January 23, 2013
On January 23, 2013 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-250, registered N6195P, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Mckinney, Texas (Collin Co. Regional Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Collapse of the landing gear for reasons that could not be determined because visual examination did not reveal any mechanical malfunction or failure that would have prevented the gear from locking in the extended position and postaccident damage precluded functional testing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 23, 2013 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Mckinney, Texas · Collin Co. Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-250 · all PA-24-250s on the register
- Registration
- N6195P · no longer on the register · serial 24-1297
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that he attempted to contact the air traffic control tower for a landing clearance but was unable to. He circled in the area to troubleshoot the problem and determined that the radios were not transmitting. The air traffic controllers in the tower saw the airplane circling and radioed that the pilot was cleared to land. The pilot turned toward the airport, at which time a total loss of electrical power occurred. The pilot and passenger, who was the airplane owner, were unable to identify the cause of the electrical failure. The pilot selected the landing gear to the down position, and the passenger performed the landing gear emergency extension checklist. The pilot reported hearing the gear extend and asked the passenger if the gear appeared to be down and locked; the passenger replied yes. The landing gear collapsed when the airplane touched down, and the airplane slid about 200 feet before coming to rest. A postaccident visual examination of the landing gear did not reveal any mechanical failure or malfunction that would have prevented the gear from locking in the extended position. An annual inspection of the airplane had been completed about 1 month before the accident flight during which new bungee cords were installed on the landing gear, in accordance with an airworthiness directive. The landing gear system, including the emergency extension system, was reportedly operationally checked during the annual inspection without any anomalies noted. Due to damage sustained in the accident, the landing gear could not be functionally tested; therefore, the reason for its collapse could not be determined. Although the airplane battery did not hold a charge during postaccident testing, the alternator functioned properly. Electrical power should have been available from the alternator once the engine was running, regardless of the condition of the battery. The reason for the electrical system failure could not be determined.
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
What happened, in order
- Electrical system malf/failure during enroute
- Landing gear collapse during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Electrical power system › (general) › Failure
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › (general) › Not specified
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,877 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 5,050 as pilot in command; 1,619 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 13, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,501 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 12, 2012; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming 0-540-A1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KGYI Denison TX at 5:35 pm
- Destination: KTKI Mckinney TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 7,002 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.25 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.