Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary MIA00LA216

DAYTON, TN, USA

Aircraft #1

N415JB

AVIAT HUSKY

Analysis

According to the pilot, as he was into his landing flare, a slight wind hit the airplane causing a veer to the right and an excursion off the right runway edge. Once off the runway pavement, the left wheel entered a pothole and the resulting bounce caused the left wingtip to strike the ground.

Factual Information

On July 6, 2000, about 1100 eastern daylight time, an Aviat A-1A Husky, N415JB, registered to N117RK, Inc., operating as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, crashed on landing in the vicinity of Dayton, Tennessee. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage and the private-rated pilot and a commercial pilot-rated passenger were not injured. The flight departed the same airport about 1 hour before the accident. According to the pilot, during his landing flare, a slight wind caused his airplane to veer sharply to the right and exit the runway off the right edge. Once off the runway pavement, the left main gear encountered a pothole, causing a bounce that resulted in the left wing becoming airborne. In recovering from that maneuver, the left wing tip struck the terrain. He stated that mechanical malfunction was not a factor in the accident. According to an FAA inspector, the accident was first reported to the FSDO as minor damage with only a scraped wing tip on July 6, 2000. When an aircraft mechanic examined the damage on July 14, 2000, he reported to the FSDO that full retraction of the landing flaps caused the left aileron to make contact with the left flap. Further examination revealed deformation of the left rear wing spar.

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing flare into a crosswind, resulting in a runway excursion off the runway edge and collision of the wingtip with the terrain.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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