Piper PA-44-180 accident near Fresno, California, May 21, 1998
On May 21, 1998, a Piper PA-44-180, registered N2153B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fresno, California (Fresno Yosemite Intl 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 dual's student improper flare that led to the right main landing gear collapsing. A related factor in the accident was the instructor pilot's inadequate supervision.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 21, 1998
- Place
- Fresno, California · Fresno Yosemite Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-44-180 · all PA-44-180s on the register
- Registration
- N2153B · no longer on the register · serial 44-7995099
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After practicing maneuvers and takeoffs and landings at an alternate airport, the dual instructional flight was returning to base to terminate the flight. In the pattern the flight instructor simulated an engine failure, with the student recovering and making a full stop landing. On the landing rollout, the aircraft veered to the right. The instructor applied full left rudder, with the aircraft continuing to the right. The instructor brought the aircraft to a stop on the runway, then requested and received permission from the tower to exit the aircraft and check the landing gear. The instructor noted that the right main landing gear was broken. Upon attempting to re-enter the aircraft, the right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing struck the ground. The instructor and student submitted written statements that stated the landing was not hard. In their interviews; however, they both stated that the landing was hard and the student stated that she was not sure if the aircraft had been properly aligned with the runway. The aircraft and landing gear mechanism were examined at the accident location. The right landing gear had separated from the wing with the front and rear attach fittings broken, exhibiting outboard loading. The landing gear collapsed towards the fuselage. No further mechanical anomalies were 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: 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: 1,221 hours in all; 149 in this make and model; 90 in the last 90 days; 42 in the last 30 days; 1,115 as pilot in command; 1,086 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,865 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 13, 1998; 32 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-E1A6D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FAT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29L, 7,206 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 14 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:57 pm from FAT
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.