Piper PA-24-180 accident near Nehalem, Oregon, August 14, 1994
On August 14, 1994 at about 1:45 am local time, a Piper PA-24-180, registered N5063P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Nehalem, Oregon (Nehalem Bay State airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE SEPARATION OF THE LANDING GEAR TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY FROM ITS ATTACH BRACKET RIVETS DUE TO UNDETERMINED REASONS. IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE FOR THE LANDING GEAR TO BE LOCKED DOWN DURING THE LANDING ROLL DUE TO THIS SEPARATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 14, 1994 · about 1:45 am local time
- Place
- Nehalem, Oregon · Nehalem Bay State · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-180 · all PA-24-180s on the register
- Registration
- N5063P · no longer on the register · serial 24-69
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT VERIFIED THAT THE LANDING GEAR WAS DOWN AND LOCKED SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE APPROACH. AFTER A NORMAL LANDING, THE LANDING GEAR SUDDENLY COLLAPSED DURING ROLLOUT. AN EXAMINATION OF AIRPLANE REVEALED THAT THE ATTACHMENT RIVETS OF THE LANDING GEAR TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED DUE TO UNDETERMINED REASONS, AND THE TRANSMISSION HAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE ATTACH BRACKET. SOME OF THE RIVETS WERE SHEARED OUT PREVIOUS TO THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT.
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
- Flight time: 963 hours in all; 64 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,520 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 15, 1993; 59 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 60S Vancouver WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 2,350 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:56 am from AST, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.