Casualties unknown

Landing Gear Collapse Causes Nose-Over During Landing (N9038D)

Alzada, MT, US

On August 23, 1983, a Piper PA-22 (registration N9038D) was involved in an aviation accident near Alzada, MT. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The collapse of the landing gear, which the pilot attributed to fatigue from operating out of unimproved landing sites. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-06-10Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft nosed over after its landing gear collapsed during a routine landing. The pilot attributed the failure to fatigue from operating out of unimproved sites rather than excessive force.

What happened

The aircraft experienced a nose-over incident during the landing phase. According to the pilot, the touchdown was slightly hard, and the aircraft struck a bump on the runway surface. This impact resulted in the failure of the left shock cord.

The investigation

Following the event, the pilot provided an assessment of the mechanical failure. He noted that while the landing was firm, he did not believe the force was sufficient to cause immediate structural failure under normal conditions. Instead, he suggested that the gear had been fatigued due to repeated operations from unimproved landing sites.

Findings

The primary factor in this accident was the collapse of the landing gear. The pilot's statement indicates that the left shock cord broke upon impact with a bump during touchdown. The condition of the gear is attributed to operational history rather than a single excessive force event.

Probable cause

The collapse of the landing gear, which the pilot attributed to fatigue from operating out of unimproved landing sites.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001214X44131. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.