Landing gear collapse during ferry flight of Cessna A188

Casualties unknown • Gallup, NM, US

A pilot performing a ferry flight in a Cessna A188 experienced a right main landing gear collapse and wing strike during the landing roll on runway 24.

What happened

The pilot was conducting a ferry flight in a Cessna A188 to transport the aircraft to its new home base. Because the annual inspection was not current, the flight was being conducted under an FAA-issued ferry permit. During the flight, the pilot intended to land at an airport to refuel.

Upon approaching runway 24, the pilot performed a normal wheel landing with some braking. During the subsequent landing roll, the right wing lowered and the aircraft experienced a hard left turn. The right main landing gear collapsed, causing the right wing to strike the ground. The aircraft departed the left side of the runway at approximately 2,260 feet from the approach end and came to rest in the grass on the south side of the runway. The aircraft sustained extensive damage to the right wing and the right main landing gear. There were no injuries reported.

The investigation

Wind conditions at the time of the accident were recorded at 350 degrees at 10 knots, with gusts up to 15 knots. Calculations determined that by selecting runway 24, the pilot was landing with a 20-degree right quartering tailwind, resulting in a 5-knot tailwind component and a 15-knot crosswind component.

While the Pilot Operating Handbook for the 1968 Cessna A188 does not list a demonstrated crosswind component, it does include crosswind limitations. For comparison, the 1983 model of the Cessna A188, which has a higher gross weight, has a demonstrated crosswind component of 15 knots.

Probable cause

The collapse of the right main landing gear during the landing roll.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2000-07-29 Cessna A188 accident near Gallup, NM?

A pilot performing a ferry flight in a Cessna A188 experienced a right main landing gear collapse and wing strike during the landing roll on runway 24.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2000-07-29 involved a Cessna A188, registration N8188V, at Gallup, NM.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The collapse of the right main landing gear during the landing roll.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001212X21445. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.

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