Piper PA-28R-180 accident near Prescott, Arizona, August 19, 2003
On August 19, 2003 at about 2:16 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-180, registered N3817T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Prescott, Arizona (Ernest A. Love Field Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The collapse of the right main gear during the landing roll for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 19, 2003 · about 2:16 pm local time
- Place
- Prescott, Arizona · Ernest A. Love Field Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-180 · all PA-28R-180s on the register
- Registration
- N3817T · no longer on the register · serial 28R30133
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane experienced a right main landing gear collapse during the landing roll. The flight instructor (CFI) reported that the purpose of the flight was to perform a biennial flight review. After completing two uneventful touch-and-go takeoffs and landings, the pilot attempted a third. He configured the airplane for a power-off landing and all three landing gear lights in the cockpit were illuminated in indication that the landing gear was in a down and locked position. Upon touching down on the runway, the airplane veered to the right and the CFI felt as though it was sinking on the right side. The right main gear collapsed and the airplane came to rest on its left main landing gear with the right gear in retracted position. The airplane was examined immediately after the accident by an A & P mechanic. The airplane was placed on jacks and the gear was cycled several times using he airplane's hydraulic system and electrically driven hydraulic pump. No defects or faults were found that could have resulted in a failure of the right gear to extend and lock. Later, a detailed landing gear extension/retraction functional test was conducted with no discrepancies noted.
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, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 11,700 hours in all; 2,200 in this make and model; 65 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 11,425 as pilot in command; 5,700 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 15, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot (unmanned)
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 3,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,124 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 25, 2003; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KPRC Prescott AZ at 1:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 4,846 ft by 60 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; scat at 4,700 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.25 inHg
- Observation at 2:23 pm from KPRC
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.