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WPR14CA143

2014-03-17 · Glendale, Arizona, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport GEU

Current FAA registration · N53503

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

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

FAA avdata. C = Cause, 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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