N4025W

On May 19, 2007, about 1030 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-32 airplane, N4025W, sustained substantial damage when its left main landing gear collapsed during landing on a gravel airstrip, about 21 miles west of Kenai, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal cross-country flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The commercial certificated pilot and sole passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight departed the Palmer Municipal Airport, Palmer, Alaska, about 0915.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC) on May 20, the pilot said when the airplane touched down on the gravel airstrip the left main landing gear collapsed. He said an inspection of the gear revealed that the landing gear attaching bolts had sheared. He said the airplane's left wing and horizontal stabilator were damaged during the accident. He said there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident. Due to the remote location, the NTSB did not examine the airplane.