S C Aerostar S A YAK 52 accident near St. Elmo, Alabama, February 1, 2017
On February 1, 2017 at about 11:15 pm local time, a 1985 S C Aerostar S A YAK 52, registered N624PT, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach near St. Elmo, Alabama (St. Elmo 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 failure of the right main landing gear uplock actuator due to corrosion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 1, 2017 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- St. Elmo, Alabama · St. Elmo Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- S C Aerostar S A YAK 52 NO SERIES, built 1985 · all YAK 52s on the register
- Registration
- N624PT · registry record · serial 855812
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot of the experimental, imported military airplane, stated that, after takeoff and while retracting the landing gear, he noticed that the pneumatic pressure was low. He then attempted to extend the landing gear using normal and emergency procedures, but the right main landing gear (MLG) remained retracted. The pilot subsequently conducted an emergency landing with the right MLG retracted. During the landing roll, he was able to keep the right wing from contacting the runway for about 1,000 ft. Once the wing contacted the runway, the pilot was unable to maintain directional control, and the airplane exited the right side of the runway. The right aileron sustained substantial damage. Examination of the airplane revealed that the pneumatic cylinder actuator that released the right MLG uplock was not functioning properly. Subsequent teardown examination of the right MLG uplock actuator revealed that moisture had entered the actuator over a period of time and corroded the internal components. The corrosion led to the failure of the actuator.
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
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during approach defining event
- Landing gear not configured during landing
- Loss of control on ground during landing
- Runway excursion during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Landing gear actuator › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Landing gear actuator › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 545 hours in all; 192 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 455 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 5, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: condition inspection, October 1, 2016; 18 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,877 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Vendenyev M14P (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2R5 St. Elmo AL at 11:00 pm
- Destination: 2R5 St. Elmo AL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 3,998 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,100 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 10:56 pm from MOB, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on May 1, 2019. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Interview Summary | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Mechanic Statement | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Photo Array | 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.