Cessna 340A accident near Santa Fe, New Mexico, June 17, 2005
On June 17, 2005 at about 6:28 pm local time, a Cessna 340A, registered N155RP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Santa Fe, New Mexico (Sante Fe Municipal airport). It was a flight test 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
total failure of the main landing gear due to improper installation of the push-pull tubes by maintenance personnel, and their failure to follow proper procedures/directives.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 17, 2005 · about 6:28 pm local time
- Place
- Santa Fe, New Mexico · Sante Fe Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 340A · all 340As on the register
- Registration
- N155RP · no longer on the register · serial 340A1265
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight test · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While taxiing from landing following a post-annual inspection flight, the right main landing gear collapsed. Maintenance records indicated both main landing gear push-pull tubes had been removed when the gear was rigged. The service manual requires the drive tubes --- not the push-pull tubes --- be disconnected. The left push-pull appeared to have been installed upside down and had not been properly aligned. Aircraft load was transmitted to the center pivot on the main landing gear bellcrank, causing it to fail. NTSB's Materials Laboratory said there was a "ductile overstress fracture in direct shear," causing instantaneous overload of the bolt.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 9,268 hours in all; 9,166 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2005; 1 hours since
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-NB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SAF Sante Fe NM
- Destination: SAF Sante Fe NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 150, 6,307 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 10 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 14°F (-10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from SAF
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.