On March 28, 1989, a Beech B55 (registration N3122W) was involved in an aviation accident near Sarasota, FL. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: UNEVEN RUNWAY CONDITION (SUNKEN SPOT). This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An aircraft's right main gear collapsed during takeoff from a rough grass strip, causing it to veer into an adjacent canal. Witnesses observed the gear striking a sunken spot on the runway.
Incident Overview
During a takeoff from a rough grass private airstrip, an aircraft was accelerating to approximately 70 mph when its right main landing gear collapsed. The aircraft then veered off the runway and entered a canal that ran parallel to the strip.
Witness and Investigative Observations
Witnesses reported that the right main gear appeared to contact a depressed area on the runway surface just before the collapse. Personnel from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) examined the aircraft and found damage to the gear consistent with the witness accounts. All observed damage was attributed to impact forces.
Aircraft History
The 15-year-old aircraft had accumulated 3,125 airframe hours. It had operated from the same rough grass strip for the preceding 10 years. The landing gear had experienced loads exceeding normal operational levels. At the time of the incident, the aircraft was due for its annual inspection in approximately three days.