Piper PA-34-200 accident near Homestead, Florida, September 2, 1992
On September 2, 1992 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-34-200, registered N975DA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Homestead, Florida (Homestead General Aviatio airport). It was a personal 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 FAILURE OF MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL TO COMPLY WITH A SERVICE BULLETIN, WHICH ALLOWED A CRACKED LANDING GEAR HOUSING TO GO UNDETECTED, RESULTING IN FAILURE OF THE LANDING GEAR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 2, 1992 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Homestead, Florida · Homestead General Aviatio · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-34-200 · all PA-34-200s on the register
- Registration
- N975DA · no longer on the register · serial 34-7250216
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
FLIGHT EXPERIENCED COLLAPSE OF THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR DURING LANDING ROLLOUT. THE PILOT/MECHANIC REPORTED THE STRUT HOUSING HAD CRACKED AND FAILED JUST BELOW THE POINT THE TRUNION WEB ENDS. PIPER AIRCRAFT CORPORATION SERVICE BULLETIN 787A, DATED AUGUST 15, 1985, REQUIRES INSPECTION OF THE LANDING GEAR HOUSING JUST BELOW THE TRUNION WEB FOR CRACKS EACH 100 HOURS. IF A NEW LANDING GEAR STRUT HOUSING IS INSTALLED IN WHICH THE TRUNION WEB EXTENDS THE LENGTH OF THE HOUSING THE INSPECTION IS NOT REQUIRED. NO RECORD OF COMPLIANCE WITH SERVICE BULLETIN 787A WAS FOUND IN THE LOGBOOKS FOR N975DA. ON JUNE 22, 1990, THE NTSB ISSUED SAFETY RECOMMENDATION A-90-92 TO THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, RECOMMENDING THAT PIPER SERVICE BULLETIN 787A BE MADE MANDATORY BY ISSUANCE OF AN AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE.
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
- Flight time: 3,500 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 3,350 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,900 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 9, 1992; 80 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1E6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PGD Punta Gorda FL at 7:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 4,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 16 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 30,000 ft; scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from MIA, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.