Overview
On July 10, 2008, at approximately 1500 Pacific daylight time, a Beech N35 (registration N931B) veered off the runway during landing at Columbia Gorge Regional Airport in The Dalles, Oregon. The private pilot, who was also the owner, was operating the airplane under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot was not injured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the right aileron.
Flight and Weather Conditions
The cross-country personal flight departed Spokane, Washington, around 1330 with The Dalles as its planned destination. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed.
Landing and Accident Sequence
According to the pilot's report to the Federal Aviation Administration, the landing was on runway 30. The wind was from 350 degrees at 12 knots, gusting to 16 knots. The pilot reported touching down on the runway centerline past the threshold. During the rollout, the right wing continued to settle and eventually contacted the runway. The airplane veered to the right and departed the runway surface. It came to rest one full plane length off the runway, oriented perpendicular to the runway direction. The pilot exited the airplane and observed that the right main landing gear had collapsed.
Damage and Post-Accident Examination
The owner of the maintenance facility that repaired the airplane described the damage. The right main landing gear had collapsed inboard. The inner gear door showed scraping on the bottom edge. The nose and left main landing gear remained down and locked with no damage. Mechanics replaced the inner gear door, wing tip, aileron, flap, and step. They cycled the landing gear numerous times and found no problems with the operating or warning systems. The right aileron sustained structural damage.
Notification
The Safety Board was not notified of the accident until November 21, 2008. The pilot did not submit a Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report (Form 6120.1).