On November 12, 1985, a Smith, Ted Aerostar AEROSTAR 600 (registration N107MW) was involved in an aviation accident near Birmingham, AL. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a premature touchdown and subsequent collapse of the left main landing gear. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
The aircraft touched down prematurely during the flare and contacted the runway lip at the approach end, resulting in a loss of directional control and collapse of the left main gear.
What happened
During the final phase of flight, the pilot reported that the aircraft made contact with the ground earlier than intended while flaring for landing. This premature touchdown caused the nose or fuselage to strike the lip of the runway at the approach end.
Following this impact, the pilot was unable to maintain directional control of the airplane. The aircraft departed the paved surface, traveling off the left side of the runway. During this excursion, the left main landing gear collapsed under the stress of the off-runway travel and uncontrolled movement.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a premature touchdown and subsequent collapse of the left main landing gear.