Piper PA-31-350 accident near North Las Vegas, Nevada, June 5, 2001
On June 5, 2001 at about 2:32 am local time, a Piper PA-31-350, registered N209TA, was substantially damaged in an accident near North Las Vegas, Nevada (North Las Vegas airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 10 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
fatigue failure of the right main landing gear retraction arm.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 5, 2001 · about 2:32 am local time
- Place
- North Las Vegas, Nevada · North Las Vegas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 10 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31-350 · all PA-31-350s on the register
- Registration
- N209TA · registry record · serial 31-7405211
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot experienced landing gear problems following takeoff from the departure airport. The pilot flew the airplane to the destination airport with the landing gear extended after attempting without success to troubleshoot the landing gear problem. The pilot reported that he observed the three green landing gear extended and locked lights. When the airplane touched down at the destination airport and the pilot applied brakes, the right main landing gear collapsed and the airplane veered off the runway to the right. Examination of the airplane after the accident revealed a fractured landing gear retraction arm. The arm failed as a result of fatigue cracking, which initiated for an unknown reason. The retraction arm had accumulated approximately 13,231 hours. The airplane had accrued 47.9 hours of flight time since its last inspection.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 44 hours in all; 335 in this make and model; 52 in the last 90 days; 52 in the last 30 days; 225 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 25, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 13,231.2 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, May 19, 2001; 47.9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,368 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming TIO540-T28D (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming LTIO540T28 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GCN Grand Canyon AZ at 1:30 am
- Destination: VGT North Las Vegas NV
- Runway 30, 5,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.71 inHg
- Observation at 2:37 am from VGT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 9 |
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.