Casualties unknown

Cessna 172G Landing Gear Collapse During Farm Road Landing (N57608)

Mattawa, WA, US

On October 1, 1982, a Piper PA-36 (registration N57608) operated by Sun Air, Inc. was involved in an aviation accident near Mattawa, WA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing, which resulted in the aircraft drifting off the runway and collapsing the right main landing gear. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-06-10Data APIEditorial standards

A Cessna 172G sustained substantial damage after the left main gear encountered a soft area on a farm road, causing the aircraft to drift and collapse its right gear.

What happened

The pilot was conducting an operation to land on a farm road for the purpose of picking up seed. During the landing phase, the left main landing gear encountered a soft area located on the left side of the roadway. This surface irregularity caused the aircraft to begin drifting to the left.

Despite the pilot's attempts to correct the drift using right rudder and right brake input, the aircraft did not respond as expected. The plane continued its trajectory until it traversed a recently filled ditch. As the right main landing gear encountered the soft surface of this area, the gear collapsed, resulting in substantial damage to the aircraft.

The investigation

The investigation focused on the mechanical failure and the circumstances surrounding the landing. The primary finding was the collapse of the right main landing gear after it struck a soft surface following the initial deviation caused by the left gear's interaction with the roadway conditions.

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing, which resulted in the aircraft drifting off the runway and collapsing the right main landing gear.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20020917X05145. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.