On December 22, 1982, a Piper PA-20 (registration N1961A) operated by Julius C. Malsby was involved in an aviation accident near Lee's Summit, MO. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing, which resulted in a hard touchdown, bounce, and subsequent veering off the runway into a depression that collapsed the right main gear. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A student pilot on a supervised solo flight in a tailwheel aircraft experienced a hard landing that caused the plane to bounce and veer off the runway, collapsing the right main gear.
What happened
The incident involved a student pilot conducting a supervised solo flight in an aircraft equipped with a tailwheel configuration. During the approach and landing phase, the instructor pilot positioned themselves approximately 300 feet from the intended touchdown point to observe the maneuver.
Upon contact with the runway surface, the aircraft touched down with excessive force. The impact caused the plane to bounce off the pavement. Following the bounce, the aircraft began to turn to the left. As it veered off the side of the runway, the right main landing gear struck a depression in the terrain. This impact resulted in the collapse of the right main gear.
At the time of the accident, meteorological reports indicated that the wind conditions were light and variable, suggesting that wind shear or strong crosswinds were not primary factors in the loss of directional control.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing, which resulted in a hard touchdown, bounce, and subsequent veering off the runway into a depression that collapsed the right main gear.