Casualties unknown

Cessna A188 Damaged During Landing with Tailwind Component (N8188V)

Gallup, NM, US

On July 29, 2000, a Cessna A188 (registration N8188V) was involved in an aviation accident near Gallup, NM. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to compensate for the wind conditions. Factors were the pilot's selection of the wrong runway, and the tailwind/crosswind weather conditions. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-06-10Data APIEditorial standards

A Cessna A188 suffered damage when the right main landing gear collapsed and the right wing struck the ground during a landing with a tailwind and crosswind component.

Accident Overview

A pilot flying a recently purchased Cessna A188 experienced a landing accident at an unspecified airport. The aircraft was being ferried to its new home base under a ferry permit because its annual inspection was not current. The pilot intended to land and refuel.

Landing and Accident Sequence

The pilot reported performing a normal wheel landing with some braking on runway 24. He had judged the wind to be from the north. During the landing roll, the right wing lowered and the airplane turned hard left. The right main landing gear then collapsed, causing the right wing to strike the ground. The airplane departed the left side of the runway approximately 2,260 feet from the approach end and came to rest in the grass on the south side of the runway.

Damage

The right main landing gear and right wing sustained extensive damage.

Wind Conditions

Recorded winds at the time were 350 degrees at 10 knots, gusting to 15 knots. Calculations indicated that landing on runway 24 resulted in a 20-degree right quartering tailwind. The tailwind component was 5 knots, and the crosswind component was 15 knots.

Aircraft Information

The accident aircraft was a 1968 Cessna A188. According to its Pilot Operating Handbook, no demonstrated crosswind component is listed, but crosswind limitations exist. By comparison, the 1983 Cessna A188, which has a higher gross weight, has a demonstrated crosswind component of 17 miles per hour (15 knots).

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.