On June 19, 1992, a Piper PA-60-700P (registration N626NP) operated by Trustee, Nils P. was involved in an aviation accident near Coalinga, CA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT AND MISJUDGING THE AIRCRAFT'S DISTANCE FROM THE RUNWAY. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE CROSSWIND CONDITION AND THE NOSE AND MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSING DUE TO OVERLOAD. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An aircraft landed short of Runway 32, causing the left main landing gear to strike the approach edge. The aircraft then skidded down the runway, veered left, hit a wind direction indicator, and collapsed its remaining landing gear.
Incident Overview
An aircraft experienced a landing accident while attempting to land on Runway 32. The pilot reported a wind of 15 knots from 270 degrees. During the approach, the pilot entered a left crab and later a slip. The aircraft touched down short of the runway, and the left main landing gear struck the approach edge of the runway.
Sequence of Events
After the initial impact, the pilot heard a muffled bang and a pop noise, followed by a loud flopping sound from the left main landing gear as the aircraft skidded down the runway. At approximately midfield, the aircraft skidded off the left side of the runway and struck a wind direction indicator located about 100 feet to the left of Runway 32. During the ground slide, the nose gear and right main landing gear collapsed.
Damage
The aircraft sustained damage to the left main landing gear from the initial collision with the runway edge. The subsequent impact with the wind direction indicator and the ground slide resulted in the collapse of the nose and right main landing gear.