No fatalities

17 Jun 2016: SCHWEIZER AIRCRAFT CORP G 164 B — SKY TRACTOR LLC — Cummings, ND

Cummings, ND, United States

On 17 Jun 2016, a SCHWEIZER AIRCRAFT CORP G 164 B operated by SKY TRACTOR LLC was involved in an aviation accident near Cummings, ND. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate rate of descent while landing, which resulted in a hard landing, short of the runway. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

A tailwheel-equipped turbine-powered airplane landed 10 feet short of the runway, causing the right main landing gear to shear off and substantial damage to wings and lift struts.

Accident Summary

During landing, the pilot of a tailwheel-equipped turbine-powered airplane reduced power, resulting in an increased descent rate. The pilot subsequently added power, but reported that the engine rpm did not have sufficient time to accelerate. The airplane touched down approximately 10 feet short of the runway surface in tall grass.

Aircraft Damage

Upon impact, the right main landing gear sheared off. The nose of the airplane dropped, and the propeller struck the ground. The airplane then rotated to the left and came to rest in a ditch. Both wings and their lift struts sustained substantial damage.

Pilot Report

The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

Safety Recommendation

As a safety recommendation, the pilot suggested allowing plenty of runway space in case of a sudden increase in descent rate while landing.

Contributing factors

PilotDescent rate — Not attained/maintained