Piper PA-22-180 accident near Valparaiso, Indiana, July 4, 2005
On July 4, 2005 at about 12:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-180, registered N5807Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Valparaiso, Indiana. 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 pilot improperly flared the airplane which resulted in a hard landing and the subsequent main gear collapse.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 4, 2005 · about 12:45 pm local time
- Place
- Valparaiso, Indiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-180 · all PA-22-180s on the register
- Registration
- N5807Z · registry record · serial 22-9662
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane experienced a gear collapse during a bounced landing. The pilot stated he was practicing takeoffs and landings when the accident occurred. He stated that the first landing was "fine." The pilot stated that during the second landing touchdown, he heard a "pop." The airplane became airborne again and the right wing raised slightly. He stated he corrected with aileron and the left main gear collapsed as the airplane touched down again. The pilot reported the left wing and the propeller contacted the runway prior to the airplane coming to a stop. The airplane had been converted to a tail wheel aircraft in 1982. The airplane had been flown 84 hours since the conversion. Inspection of the airplane revealed the landing gear strut was compressed and the gear was folded inward under the fuselage. He also stated the axle was pushed through the wheel and the wheel bearings were broken.
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: student
- Flight time: 45 hours in all; 45 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 3 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VPZ Valparaiso IN at 12:30 pm
- Destination: VPZ Valparaiso IN
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 am from VPZ
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.