Amateur-built Murphy SR3500 accident near Seattle, Washington, May 22, 2002
On May 22, 2002 at about 8:15 pm local time, a amateur-built Murphy SR3500, registered N526AP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Seattle, Washington (Boeing Field). 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
The failure of the left main gear leg AN-5 attach fitting bolt.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 22, 2002 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Seattle, Washington · Boeing Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Murphy SR3500
- Registration
- N526AP · registry record · serial 026SR
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped experimental aircraft had just completed an uneventful landing and was turning off the runway at a speed estimated to be about ten to fifteen miles per hour. As the aircraft was exiting the runway, the AN-5 bolt that attached the left gear leg to the landing gear saddle bracket failed. The left side of the aircraft then settled to the runway and the left wing sustained substantial damage. The reason for the failure of the bolt was not ultimately determined.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,023 hours in all; 45 in this make and model; 44 in the last 90 days; 44 in the last 30 days; 2,004 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 45 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 15, 2002; 45 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-EXP (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2S1 Vashon WA at 8:00 pm
- Destination: BFI Seattle WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13R, 10,000 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,500 ft; a few clouds at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from BFI
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.