Event LAX05LA051

Factual narrative

On December 23, 2004, at 1105 mountain standard time, a Cessna 177RG, N1JM, veered off the left side of the runway during landing, collapsing the right main landing gear mount, at Deer Valley Airport, Phoenix, Arizona. The private pilot operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot was not injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan had not been filed. The maintenance check flight originated from Deer Valley Airport at 1015. The pilot stated in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) that he was performing a test flight to check the landing gear warning system. The pilot completed the test, and was landing on runway 7R. As soon as he lowered the nose wheel to the runway, the airplane veered to the left despite his corrective control inputs. The airplane departed the left side of the runway and into the midfield terrain, collapsing the right main landing gear strut. No mechanical anomalies were identified during the post accident airplane examination. The airplane veered off the left side of the runway during landing with a 40-degree, 12-knot crosswind. The pilot was performing a post maintenance test flight to check the landing gear warning system. He completed the test, and was landing. As soon as he lowered the nose wheel to the runway, the airplane veered to the left despite his corrective control inputs. The airplane departed the left side of the runway and into the midfield terrain, collapsing the right main landing gear strut. No mechanical anomalies were identified during the post accident airplane examination. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12