On June 5, 2002, a Grumman G-164A (registration N7835) was involved in an aviation accident near Langdon, ND. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot did not maintain directional control while taxiing. A contributing factor was the wind gust condition present at the time of the accident. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An agricultural aircraft veered into a ditch while taxiing after landing on a gravel road, resulting in destruction by post-impact fire. The pilot reported a gust of wind from the southwest at 15 knots gusting to 25 knots lifted the right wing.
Accident Details
An agricultural aircraft was destroyed by a post-impact fire after veering into a ditch while taxiing following a landing. The landing had been performed toward the south on a gravel road. According to the pilot, a gust of wind caused the right wing to lift, leading the aircraft to depart the road to the left and enter a ditch.
Wind Conditions
The pilot reported that the wind was from the southwest at 15 knots, with gusts reaching 25 knots at the time of the accident. The gust was cited as the cause of the loss of directional control.
Sequence of Events
After the landing on the gravel road, the aircraft was taxiing when the right wing was lifted by a wind gust. The aircraft then veered left off the road into a ditch. The subsequent post-impact fire destroyed the aircraft.