Piper PA28R accident near Gila Bend, Arizona, May 13, 2019
On May 13, 2019 at about 4:26 pm local time, a 1968 Piper PA28R, registered N4992J, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Gila Bend, Arizona (Gila Bend Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to configure the landing gear in a timely manner before landing, which resulted in a propeller strike.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 13, 2019 · about 4:26 pm local time
- Place
- Gila Bend, Arizona · Gila Bend Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28R 180, built 1968 · all PA28Rs on the register
- Registration
- N4992J · registry record · serial 28R-30748
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, while descending toward his destination airport, he completed a before-landing checklist, but could not recall if he verified that the landing gear down and locked lights were illuminated. The pilot stated that he heard an aural alarm in the final 2 minutes of flight, which he attributed to a stall warning. During landing, the propeller contacted the runway and the airplane veered left and departed the left side of the runway, resulting in in substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. The landing gear selector was found in the down position and the left main landing gear was down and locked at the accident site. The airplane was equipped with a backup gear extender that would extend the landing gear, regardless of selector position, if the engine power was at idle at airspeeds below about 105 mph. The aural gear warning horn was designed to activate under any one of the following conditions: 1) when the landing gear was retracted and power was below about 14 inches manifold pressure, 2) if the backup gear extender has extended the landing gear and the gear selector is in the retracted position, and 3) if the gear selector is in the retracted position while the airplane is on the ground. Postaccident testing could not determine whether the aural warning system was functional at the time of the accident; however, examination and testing of the landing gear extension and retraction revealed no anomalies. Based on the available information, it is likely that the landing gear did not extend in the allotted time prior to touchdown either due to the pilot's delayed deployment or because the conditions for the automatic gear extender to engage were not met. In either case, the accident is consistent with the pilot’s failure to configure the landing gear in a timely manner before landing.
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
What happened, in order
- Landing gear not configured during landing defining event
- Runway excursion during landing
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › (general) › Incorrect use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,790 hours in all; 2,393.6 in this make and model; 21.6 in the last 90 days; 2,663 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 2, 2018
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,994.2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 7, 2018; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming Engines IO-360-B1E (piston); 4,034 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AVQ Marana AZ at 4:15 pm
- Destination: E63 Gila Bend AZ
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 22, 5,200 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 4:58 pm, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
8 documents, released by the NTSB on March 7, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Conversations | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Excerpt from Aircraft Logbooks | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Excerpt from Pilot's Operating Handbook | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Federal Aviation Administration Landing Gear Examination Report | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Accident Photographs | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.
