Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary CEN18CA058

Georgetown, TX, USA

Aircraft #1

N141JT

Piaggio P.180

Analysis

The pilot said he was flying the RNAV GPS runway 36 approach in 3 miles visibility and that the wind was from 070° at 9 knots. He sighted the runway at 50 ft above the missed approach point. He said the airplane was slightly right of the runway centerline and that there was a right crosswind. When the right main landing gear (MLG) contacted the runway, it collapsed. The airplane then exited the right side of the runway onto the grass median about 1,000 ft from the end of the runway, and the airplane then came to a stop and the right main landing gear (MLG) to collapse. Examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane had landed hard, which resulted in the right MLG collapsing. Examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have resulted in the landing gear collapse.

Factual Information

The pilot said he was flying the RNAV (GPS) runway 36 approach in 3 miles visibility. He said the wind was from 070° at 9 knots. At 50 feet above the missed approach point (MAP), the runway was sighted. He said he was slightly right of runway centerline and there was a right crosswind as well. When the right main landing gear contacted the runway, it folded under the body and the airplane came to a stop. According to the Federal Aviation Administration inspector who examined the accident site, the pilot made a hard landing that caused the right main landing gear to collapse. The airplane exited the right side of the runway onto the grass about 1,000 feet from the end of the runway. Further examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical anomalies or malfunctions that would have resulted in the landing gear collapse. Visibility and wind as reported by the airport's AWOS-3 (Automated Weather Observing System), was 0.25 miles and 100° at 4 knots.

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot's inadequate compensation for crosswind conditions, which resulted in a hard landing and the right main landing gear collapsing.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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