Piper PA-24 accident near Montague, California, May 6, 1989
On May 6, 1989 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-24, registered N550V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Montague, California (Montague-Yreka Rohrer Fld 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 PILOT'S FAILURE TO EXTEND THE LANDING GEAR BECAUSE OF INATTENTION. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE OF THE AIRPLANE WHICH FAILED TO REPAIR THE LANDING GEAR WARNING THROTTLE POSITION SWITCH.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 6, 1989 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Montague, California · Montague-Yreka Rohrer Fld · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24 · all PA-24s on the register
- Registration
- N550V · no longer on the register · serial 24-3078
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE LANDED WITH THE LANDING GEAR RETRACTED. THE AIRPLANE HAD RECENTLY UNDERGONE REPLACEMENT ON THE LANDING GEAR TRANSMISSION AND MAINTENANCE ON THE GEAR SYSTEM. AFTER THE AIRPLANE WAS RAISED FROM THE RUNWAY, THE LANDING GEAR WAS EXTENDED MANUALLY. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE GEAR MOTOR CIRCUIT BREAKER WAS POPPED. FURTHER INVESTIGATION INDICATED THE GEAR MOTOR WAS BINDING BECAUSE OF INSUFFICIENT ADJUSTMENT BETWEEN THE TRANSMISSION AND GEAR MOTOR. THIS AIRPLANE IS EQUIPPED WITH A MANUAL EXTENSION SYSTEM THAT ALSO SERVES AS A SECONDARY GEAR POSITION INDICATOR. IF THE LANDING GEAR IS MOVING BY ELECTRICAL ACTUATION, THE MANUAL EXTENSION SYSTEM IS ALSO MOVING AT THE SAME TIME.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 327 hours in all; 175 in this make and model; 322 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,387 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 1988; 147 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-A1D5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WVI Watsonville CA
- Destination: 105
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 3,360 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.