Piper PA-34-200 accident near Jeffersonville, Indiana, December 1, 2002
On December 1, 2002 at about 4:38 pm local time, a Piper PA-34-200, registered N15723, was substantially damaged in an accident near Jeffersonville, Indiana (Clark County 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 mechanical binding of the left main landing gear, which resulted in the left main landing gear not fully extending to the down-and-locked position. Factors to the accident were the oleo-strut linkage being corroded and the contamination of the gear position switches.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 1, 2002 · about 4:38 pm local time
- Place
- Jeffersonville, Indiana · Clark County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-34-200 · all PA-34-200s on the register
- Registration
- N15723 · no longer on the register · serial 34-7350136
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The main landing gear collapsed during landing rollout. The pilot reported that when he selected 'gear down' the in-transit light illuminated and when the landing gear had extended the three landing gear position lights illuminated. The pilot reported the in-transit light did not remain illuminated after the landing gear had extended. The pilot stated there was "no gear warning indication or horn sounding." The pilot reported a normal landing was made and prior to the first taxiway both main landing gear collapsed. The pilot stated when the main landing gear collapsed the in-transit light illuminated and landing gear warning horn sounded. The pilot reported the three landing gear position lights remained illuminated after the aircraft came to rest. The airplane was elevated for an operational test of the landing gear. During normal gear extension the nose and right main landing gear extended as designed. The left main landing gear extended approximately 3/4 down before becoming mechanically bound. The nose and right main landing gear position lights illuminated. The left main landing gear position light did not illuminate. The left main landing gear could be forced into the down-and-locked position and the gear position light would illuminate. The linkage between the left oleo strut assembly and the gear was corroded and dirt was present on the landing gear position switches. The linkage was disconnected and the left main landing gear moved freely.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 834 hours in all; 515 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 743 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 23, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,177 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 24, 2002; 60 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,200 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming IO-360-C1E6 (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming IO-360-C1E6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LOU Louisville KY at 3:45 pm
- Destination: JVY Jeffersonville IN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 5,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 28°F (-2°C), dew point 10°F (-12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.23 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from LOU, 9 miles away
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.