On November 10, 1984, a Boeing 75 (registration N5506A) was involved in an aviation accident near Rustburgh, VA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's decision to land on a runway that was too short for the conditions, combined with a significant tailwind, which resulted in an excessive sink rate and a hard landing that overstressed the landing gear. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot attempted to land on a 1,100-foot runway with a 16-knot tailwind. The aircraft experienced an excessive sink rate, struck the runway hard, and nosed over.
What happened
The pilot was conducting an approach to land on a short runway measuring only 1,100 feet in length. Conditions were challenging, as the aircraft encountered a 16-knot tailwind during the final segment of the approach. As the aircraft descended toward the runway threshold, it developed an excessive rate of sink that was difficult to arrest.
In an effort to recover from the steep descent, the pilot applied full power. Despite this intervention, the aircraft impacted the runway surface with significant force. The impact caused the left main landing gear to break under the stress. Following the structural failure, the aircraft nosed over and skidded approximately 25 feet along the ground before coming to rest.
Probable cause
The pilot's decision to land on a runway that was too short for the conditions, combined with a significant tailwind, which resulted in an excessive sink rate and a hard landing that overstressed the landing gear.