On January 18, 1989, a Cessna 140 (registration N2652N) was involved in an aviation accident near Farmington, NM. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's loss of directional control during landing, which resulted in a ground loop 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.
A private pilot practicing landings experienced a ground loop after applying corrective braking, resulting in the collapse of the left main landing gear and significant airframe damage.
What happened
The pilot was operating a private aircraft for the purpose of practicing landing procedures. The operations were conducted on runway 25. During one specific landing attempt, the pilot applied left-side braking to initiate a turn off the active runway and onto an adjacent taxiway.
According to the pilot's account, the aircraft began to deviate from the intended path. To correct this deviation, the pilot applied right-side braking. This corrective action resulted in the aircraft ground looping to the right. As the aircraft departed from the right side of the runway surface, the left main landing gear collapsed under the stress.
The investigation
The physical inspection of the wreckage revealed significant structural damage consistent with the reported ground loop and gear collapse. The fuselage was bent, and both wings sustained bending damage. The failure of the left main gear was the primary mechanical event leading to the extensive airframe deformation.
Probable cause
The pilot's loss of directional control during landing, which resulted in a ground loop and subsequent collapse of the left main landing gear.