Piper PA24 accident near Greeley, Colorado, June 24, 2019
On June 24, 2019 at about 4:25 pm local time, a 1959 Piper PA24, registered N5866P, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Greeley, Colorado (Greeley-Weld County 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 conditions the NTSB did not record.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in failure of the right main landing gear and a subsequent loss of control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 24, 2019 · about 4:25 pm local time
- Place
- Greeley, Colorado · Greeley-Weld County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- conditions the NTSB did not record
- Aircraft
- Piper PA24 250, built 1959 · all PA24s on the register
- Registration
- N5866P · registry record · serial 24-949
- 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 the final approach and touchdown were uneventful, but then the airplane's right wing “dipped,” the nose veered left, and the airplane departed the runway surface. Witnesses reported that, during the landing, the nose gear contacted the runway first and then the airplane became airborne again. After the second touchdown, the airplane veered left into the grass. Examination of the airplane revealed that the right main landing gear sustained damage consistent with an excessive side load during landing. There was no evidence of a preimpact mechanical malfunction that would have precluded normal operation. Based on the available information, the accident is consistent with the pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in touchdown on the runway with a side load on the landing gear, failure of the right main gear, and a loss of control.
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
- Aircraft structural failure during landing (landing roll)
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1 in the last 90 days; 395 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 9, 2018
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 9, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 2,899 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540 SERIES (piston); 4,078 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GXY Greeley CO at 4:15 pm
- Destination: GXY Greeley CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 5,801 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 3:56 pm from KGXY
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on November 17, 2021. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Conversation with Witness | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | NTSB Landing Gear Examination Report | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Photographs | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.