Probable cause
The failure of the right landing gear due to fatigue cracking.
NTSB analysis
After landing, as the pilot was taxiing back to the runway for another takeoff, the right landing gear collapsed, and the right wing struck the runway resulting in substantial damage.
Examination of the landing gear bolts revealed they failed due to reverse bending fatigue cracking. The size of the fatigue cracking area on the fracture surfaces versus the overstress area indicated the fatigue likely grew over time under low-to-moderate stress. The occurrence of the fatigue cracking on all the hex-head bolts and the similarities of the fatigue cracking areas on the fracture surfaces were consistent with some amount of movement on that side of the landing gear, which indicates there was likely an issue with preloading of the bolts.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR20LA306 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Aug 19, 2020
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Upland, California
- Nearest airport
- Cable Airport (CCB)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Night
Piper PA-28-181
- N-number
- N79MS
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1978
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.