Piper PA-24-250 accident near San Diego, California, May 20, 1989
On May 20, 1989 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-250, registered N6545P, was substantially damaged in an accident near San Diego, California (Montgomery 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 COLLAPSE OF THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR DUE TO A BENT ROD END WHICH PREVENTED THE LANDING GEAR DRAG LINK TO LOCK OVER CENTER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 20, 1989 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- San Diego, California · Montgomery
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-250 · all PA-24-250s on the register
- Registration
- N6545P · no longer on the register · serial 24-1667
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED DURING A LANDING AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS WERE MADE TO LOCK THE GEAR INTO THE DOWN POSITION. AFTERWARDS, WHEN THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON JACKS AND THE ROD END DISCONNECTED, THE LANDING GEAR WAS RETRACTED AND THE DRAG LINK LOCKED DOWN OVER CENTER AND MET TOLERANCE. DURING THE RETRACTION THE DOWN LOCK SWITCH COULD BE HEARD TO CLICK PRIOR TO THE DRAG LINK LOCKING OVER CENTER. DAMAGE TO THE LANDING GEAR, EXCEPT FOR THE ROD END, WAS IMPACT DAMAGE FROM THE COLLAPSING GEAR.
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: 127 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 60 as pilot in command; 56 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,650 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-A1D5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28R, 3,400 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.