TAOS, NM, USA
N4787V
Boeing E75
Unicom reported, and a flag at the north end of the airport indicated, that the wind was light and variable from the northwest. As the pilot turned on final approach to runway 4, the wind caused the airplane to drift slightly right of the runway centerline. The pilot corrected and made a wheel landing. As speed dissipated below 50 mph and the tail wheel settled to the ground, the airplane shuddered slightly, then veered to the right. Full right aileron, left rudder, and left brake were applied but to no avail. The left wing contacted the ground and the airplane went off the right side of the runway into soft dirt, shearing off the left main landing gear. The pilot said another pilot reported seeing a dust devil on the south side of the airport just before the accident occurred.
On May 11, 1996, approximately 1140 mountain daylight time, a Boeing E75, N4787V, registered to Golden Wings Advertising, Inc., was substantially damaged during landing at Taos, New Mexico. The airline transport pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local air tour flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated from Taos, New Mexico at approximately 1125. According to the pilot, Unicom reported the wind to be light and variable from the northwest. As he entered the pattern, a flag at the north end of the airport also indicated the wind was from the northwest. When he turned on final approach, the wind caused the airplane to drift slightly right of the runway centerline. He corrected and made a normal wheel landing on runway 4. As speed dissipated (under 50 mph) and the tail wheel settled to the ground, the airplane "shuddered slightly." The airplane suddenly veered to the right and the right wing rose. Full right aileron and left rudder were applied but to no avail. The left brake was applied and locked but the airplane continued to veer right. The left wing contacted the runway and the airplane went off the right side of the runway into soft dirt, shearing off the left main landing gear. The pilot said another pilot told him that they had seen a dust devil on the south side of the airport just before the accident occurred.
the pilot's failure to maintain directional control. A factor was the dust devil.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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