On March 29, 1998, a Piper PA-22 (registration N1846A) was involved in an aviation accident near Hampton, GA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing rollout, which resulted in a runway excursion and subsequent collapse of the main landing gear. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An aircraft touched down normally but veered left during rollout, leaving the runway and collapsing its main landing gear. No pre-existing mechanical failure was found.
What happened
The flight concluded with a touchdown that airport officials characterized as standard and within normal parameters. However, during the subsequent rollout phase on the runway surface, the airplane deviated laterally to the left. This deviation caused the aircraft to leave the paved runway environment and enter the adjacent terrain. Upon leaving the runway, the structural integrity of the landing gear was compromised, resulting in the collapse of the main landing gear assembly.
The investigation
Following the incident, investigators conducted a physical examination of the airplane at the accident site. The inspection focused on determining whether mechanical issues contributed to the event. Specifically, the team assessed the condition of the main landing gear assembly. The examination failed to disclose any pre-existing failure or defect within the main landing gear assembly prior to the impact with the ground.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing rollout, which resulted in a runway excursion and subsequent collapse of the main landing gear.