Piper PA-28R-200 accident near Boulder City, Nevada, November 14, 2021
On November 14, 2021 at about 10:23 pm local time, a 1970 Piper PA-28R-200, registered N5057S, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Boulder City, Nevada (Boulder City Muni 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 installation of an improper right main landing gear door rod-end bolt, which resulted in the right main landing gear not extending during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 14, 2021 · about 10:23 pm local time
- Place
- Boulder City, Nevada · Boulder City Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-200, built 1970 · all PA-28R-200s on the register
- Registration
- N5057S · no longer on the register · serial 28R-35784
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During an approach to the airport, the right main landing gear would not extend. The pilot cycled the landing gear and made several abrupt, high-G maneuvers to try and free the right main landing gear from its retracted position. Despite his actions, the right main landing gear would not extend. During the landing, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the aft fuselage and right wing. During the postaccident examination of the airplane, the right main landing gear wheel well exhibited mechanical damage consistent with contact from the threaded end of the right gear door rod-end bolt. The right main landing gear door rod-end bolt had about 4 additional threads than the bolt used on the left main landing gear. The bolt was removed, and its length was 1-4/25 inch, which was about 1/8 inch longer than the correctly installed bolt, which measured 1-1/32 inch. It is likely that during the accident flight, the right main landing gear could not fully extend due to the right gear door rod-end bolt positioning itself on the inside of the landing gear wheel well, preventing the landing gear from extending.
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
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Misc hardware › Fasteners › Incorrect service/maintenance
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, flight engineer, military, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 18,000 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 6,000 as pilot in command; 1,800 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 19, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,700 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 2,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 5,000 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SMX Santa Maria CA at 7:30 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 27, 5,103 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 62°F (17°C), dew point 15°F (-9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.02 inHg
- Observation at 2:15 pm from KBVU
Weather report (METAR): METAR KBVU 142215Z AUTO 05004KT 10SM CLR 26/M03 A3015 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
8 documents, released by the NTSB on January 4, 2024. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Art Craft Paint-statements | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Photo Array-accident Site | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Photo Array-postaccident Examination | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Hired Mechanic-notes | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Piper Aircraft-bolt Lengths | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 8 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page | 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.