Classic Fighter Industries ME-262 Reproduction accident near Everett, Washington, January 17, 2003
On January 17, 2003 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Classic Fighter Industries ME-262 Reproduction, registered N262AZ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Everett, Washington (Snohomish County (Paine Fld) airport). It was a flight test 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
Failure of the left main gear hydraulic actuator locking slide during landing. Factors include an embankment adjacent to the landing runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 17, 2003 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Everett, Washington · Snohomish County (Paine Fld) · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Classic Fighter Industries ME-262 Reproduction
- Registration
- N262AZ · registry record · serial 501241
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight test · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that shortly after touchdown, the left main landing gear collapsed and the aircraft veered to the left, eventually exiting the runway edge and traveling down an embankment that’s adjacent to the runway. Post accident inspection of the aircraft's left main gear hydraulic system revealed that the hydraulic actuator locking slide was undersized which allowed the gear to collapse (unlock) when placed under a load.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 25,600 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 21,500 as pilot in command; 7,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 23, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, November 19, 2002; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 12,499 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: General Electric J85-17A (turbojet); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PAE Everett WA at 10:00 pm
- Destination: PAE Everett WA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 34, 9,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.34 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from KPAE
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.