On July 16, 1994, a Piper PA-20 (registration N6066D) was involved in an aviation accident near Talkeetna, AK. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from an obstruction (a bush) during the landing flare, which resulted in the collapse of the landing gear. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
The aircraft's left main gear struck a bush near the threshold during landing, causing it to veer left and collapse the right gear before stopping on the airstrip.
What happened
The pilot was conducting a landing operation with the specific intent of avoiding hazardous conditions at the western end of the airstrip. To mitigate these risks, the pilot aimed to touch down as close to the eastern end of the runway as possible. During the final phase of the approach, known as the flare, the aircraft's left main landing gear made contact with a bush located near the threshold of the airstrip.
This impact caused the aircraft to veer sharply to the left. As the aircraft continued its uncontrolled movement, the right landing gear subsequently collapsed under the stress. The aircraft eventually came to a stop on the airstrip after the pilot managed to turn the aircraft back toward the right.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from an obstruction (a bush) during the landing flare, which resulted in the collapse of the landing gear.