MIA97LA238

Factual narrative

On August 21, 1997, about 1530 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-34-200, N55322, registered to Aviation Enterprises Unlimited Inc., operating as a Title 14 CFR Part 91, personal flight, impacted the ground near Kissimmee, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged. The private pilot was not injured. The flight had originated from Leesburg, Florida, about 30 minutes before the accident. After departure the pilot noted that the "gear unsafe warning light stayed on after [the] gear was retracted." The pilot said he, "checked and found [the] circuit breaker for [the] gear hydraulic motor popped." He reset the circuit breaker and cycled the landing gear down, at which point he noted that "only 2 green lights illuminated for the main gear," the nose gear light was out. He then switched bulbs and determined that the bulb was "good." He then pulled the emergency gear extension with the gear handle in the down position and he said that he "still only had 2 green lights for main gear." The pilot circled the airport due to the problem he was having extending the nose landing gear, and was advised by the tower that that the nose gear appeared to be in midway position. He then made an approach and landing on runway 24. The airplane landed hard on the main landing gear, and a wing struck the ground. The airplane was placed on jacks and the landing gear was examined by an FAA inspector. According to the FAA inspector's statement, "...[the nose gear was extended by hand, it was revealed that the steering ball was outside of its track, causing the nose gear not extend...." After departure the pilot noted that the 'gear unsafe warning light stayed on after [the] gear was retracted.' The pilot said he, 'checked and found [the] circuit breaker for [the] gear hydraulic motor popped.' He reset the circuit breaker and cycled the landing gear down, at which point he noted that 'only 2 green lights illuminated for the main gear.' The nose gear light was out. He then switched bulbs and determined that the bulb was 'good.' He then pulled the emergency gear extension with the gear handle in the down position and he said that he 'still only had 2 green lights for main gear.' The pilot circled the airport due to the problem he was having extending the nose landing gear, and was advised by the tower that that the nose gear appeared to be in midway position. He then made an approach and landing on runway 24. The airplane landed hard on the main landing gear, and a wing struck the ground. The airplane was placed on jacks and the landing gear was examined. The nose gear was extended by hand, it was revealed that the steering ball was outside of its track, causing the nose gear not extend. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12