On October 24, 2007, a Grumman American AA-5 (registration N5859L) operated by Steven Burnett was involved in an aviation accident near Wheatland, WY. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's decision to land on a dirt road with soft terrain, which resulted in the main landing gear settling and loss of directional control. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot tried landing on a dirt road to check cattle, but soft terrain caused the gear to sink and the plane to yaw left before hitting a tree.
What happened
The pilot initiated an attempt to land the aircraft on a dirt road with the specific intent of inspecting cattle located in an adjacent field. During the landing rollout, the main landing gear sank into the soft terrain, causing the airplane to yaw approximately 30 degrees to the left. The pilot then attempted to execute a go-around maneuver but was unable to recover control or gain sufficient altitude. Consequently, the airplane impacted a small tree and came to rest on its nose.
The investigation
The factual narrative indicates that the primary mechanical failure was not due to equipment malfunction but rather the interaction between the landing gear and the unstable ground surface. The soft terrain prevented normal rollout dynamics, leading to the loss of directional control.
Findings
The incident highlights the risks associated with off-airport landings on unprepared surfaces. Soft terrain played a critical role in the loss of control during the landing phase. The inability to execute a successful go-around after gear collapse underscores the difficulty of recovering from such situations on non-standard runways.
Probable cause
The pilot's decision to land on a dirt road with soft terrain, which resulted in the main landing gear settling and loss of directional control.