Piper PA-30 accident near Naples, Florida, October 14, 1989
On October 14, 1989 at about 11:10 pm local time, a Piper PA-30, registered N7599Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Naples, Florida (Naples Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
COLLAPSE OF THE LANDING GEAR DURING THE LANDING ROLL DUE TO AN UNDETERMINED REASON.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 14, 1989 · about 11:10 pm local time
- Place
- Naples, Florida · Naples Muni
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-30 · all PA-30s on the register
- Registration
- N7599Y · no longer on the register · serial 30-668
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT RPRTD THAT AFTER TAKEOFF, THE LANDING GEAR DID NOT RETRACT. HE ATTEMPTED TO RECYCLE IT SVRL TIMES, THEN AFTER TURNING OFF THE 'PANEL LIGHTS,' THE LANDING GEAR INDCR (DOWN & LOCKED LIGHT) ILLUMINATED. HE FLEW BY THE TOWER FOR VISUAL CONFIRMATION THAT THE GEAR WAS DOWN. AFTER BEING ADVISED THAT IT WAS, HE RETURNED FOR LANDING. HE RPRTD THAT AFTER REDUCING POWER TO LAND WITH NO WARNING HORN, THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE GEAR COLLAPSED. NO REASON WAS FOUND FOR THE GEAR TO COLLAPSE. THE OWNER'S HANDBOOK NOTED THAT THE LANDING GEAR INDCR LIGHTS WOULD DIM WHEN THE NAV LIGHTS WERE ON.
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: 538 hours in all; 84 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 538 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,133 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 1989; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-320-B1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 5,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:10 pm from APF
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.