NTSB CAROL · Event
Event WPR14CA143
Registry · N53503
FAA Aircraft Registry record.
Make / Model
GRUMMAN TBM-3E
Year of manufacture
1948 · 66 years old at event
Engine
WRIGHT R-2600 SER (1700 hp)
Seats / Engines
2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
20110824
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A6C574
Registrant of record
AMERICAN AIRPOWER HERITAGE FLYING MUSEUM
Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).
Aircraft involved
Probable cause & findings
The pilot inadvertently raised the landing gear lever rather than the adjacent flap level while exiting the runway which resulted in the retraction of the left main landing gear.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that after landing and during the turn onto a taxiway intersection, he inadvertently raised the landing gear lever by mistake, rather than the adjacent flap lever. The left landing gear collapsed, which caused the left wing tip to strike the ground. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented had he waited until he was clear of the runway, stopped, and identified the flap switch. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that after landing and during the turn onto a taxiway intersection, he inadvertently raised the landing gear lever by mistake, rather than the adjacent flap lever. The left landing gear collapsed, which caused the left wing tip to strike the ground. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented had he waited until he was clear of the runway, stopped, and identified the flap switch. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12
NTSB Findings
Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).
- C Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Incorrect action selection-Pilot - C
- C Aircraft-Aircraft systems-Landing gear system-Main landing gear-Incorrect use/operation - C
- — Personnel issues-Psychological-Attention/monitoring-Task monitoring/vigilance-Pilot
Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file
NTSB_2014_WPR14CA143.txt.
Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb.
Full investigation docket on
data.ntsb.gov ↗.
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