Serious incident Lockheed SP-2H Neptune N355MA,
ASN logo
ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 320923
 

Date:Sunday 3 June 2012
Time:13:50
Type:Silhouette image of generic P2 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different    
Lockheed SP-2H Neptune
Owner/operator:Minden Air Corporation
Registration: N355MA
MSN: 726-7229
Year of manufacture:1957
Fatalities:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2
Aircraft damage: Minor, written off
Category:Serious incident
Location:Minden-Tahoe Airport, NV (MEV) -   United States of America
Phase: Landing
Nature:Fire fighting
Departure airport:Porterville Airport, CA (PTV/KPTV)
Destination airport:Porterville Airport, CA (PTV/KPTV)
Confidence Rating:
Narrative:
The crew of a firefighting Lockheed SP-2H Neptune (Air Tanker mod.) N355MA, "Tanker 55", reported it was unable to lower its left main landing gear and force landed at Minden-Tahoe Airport, in western Nevada. That crew had been helping with efforts to fight the George Fire within the Giant Sequoia National Monument in California. When on approach to Porterville, California, the main landing gear showed unsafe on port side. The pilot aborted the landing and climbed above pattern altitude where the landing gear was cycled again with same results. The left gear would not extend. A decision was made to return to the company’s base at Minden-Tahoe Airport where contact was made with operations and maintenance personnel. After all emergency procedures and maintenance ideas were exhausted the pilot executed an emergency landing on runway 16 with main the left gear still in the up position. The nose and starboard gear were down and locked. After touchdown and bleeding off airspeed, the aircraft settled on the port jet pod and sustained left engine propeller strikes. As the aircraft came to a stop, the left jet pod pylon broke off, while being sideloaded from a side motion skid. There is no apparent damage to the wing structure or pylon attach points. Pilot and co-pilot exited the aircraft with no injuries.

Sources:

FAA

Revision history:

Date/timeContributorUpdates

The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:

CONNECT WITH US: FSF on social media FSF Facebook FSF Twitter FSF Youtube FSF LinkedIn FSF Instagram

©2024 Flight Safety Foundation

1920 Ballenger Av, 4th Fl.
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
www.FlightSafety.org