Incident Description
During the landing roll, the aircraft's left wing struck a television cameraman who was standing at the left edge of the runway, approximately 1,200 feet from the threshold. After the collision, the aircraft veered off the left side of the runway, and the right main landing gear collapsed.
Witness Accounts
Witnesses reported that the cameraman had been asked to stand back from the runway two or three times but ignored those warnings.
Pilot Statement
The pilot stated that the nose of the aircraft was still raised when he saw the cameraman on the runway surface. Immediately thereafter, the collision occurred.
Aircraft and Runway Specifications
The aircraft had a wingspan of 38 feet, while the runway was only 40 feet wide. Reportedly, the aircraft drifted slightly to the left, approximately three feet, during the landing roll.