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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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December 3, 1994 · Howard Aircraft DGA-15P · N88WT

Las Cruces, NM

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
December 3, 1994
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (4 uninjured)
Location
Las Cruces, NM
Aircraft
Howard Aircraft DGA-15P
Tail Number
N88WT
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
FTW95LA060

THE PILOT WAS CONDUCTING THE FOURTH TOUCH AND GO LANDING, UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF AN INSTRUCTOR PILOT, WHEN THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR FAILED. FOLLOWING THE COLLAPSE OF THE LANDING GEAR THE AIRCRAFT VEERED RIGHT OF THE RUNWAY AND GROUND LOOPED. AN EXAMINATION OF THE LANDING GEAR REVEALED A PRE-EXISTING CRACK IN A WELD AREA. THE PILOT HAD RECENTLY PURCHASED THE AIRCRAFT.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE BY UNKNOWN MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL. A FACTOR WAS THE COLLAPSED LANDING GEAR.

Full Narrative

On December 3, 1994, at 1030 central standard time, a Howard DGA-15P, N88WT, was substantially damaged during landing at the Las Cruces, New Mexico, International Airport. The airplane, owned and operated by the commercial pilot, was on a local area dual instructional flight. There was no flight plan filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. Neither the pilot, the instructor, nor the two passengers were injured. According to the owner, who had recently purchased the airplane, he was "acting as pilot-in-command." He and his flight instructor were doing touch and go landings on runway 30. He stated that during the last landing he touched down at approximately "60 miles per hour (MPH)." During the landing roll, at approximately 40 MPH, the "right main landing gear began to fail." As the gear began to collapse the airplane veered right and he and the instructor could not regain control using full left rudder and differential braking. As the airplane departed the runway, it spun 720 degrees before the right main landing gear collapsed. The flight had landed on runway 30 and the winds were reported as being 110 degrees at 4 knots. An examination of the aircraft, by a Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness inspector, revealed that control continuity existed and the braking system operated. Inspection of the landing gear revealed evidence of pre-existing fractures in the gear structure.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time10:30 MST
Nearest AirportLas Cruces Municipal (0nm)
Runway30
Runway Length7494 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftHoward Aircraft DGA-15P
Tail NumberN88WT
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsP&W · R985-AN12 · Reciprocating · 450
Seats5

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (4 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured4
Total4
Crew 1Age 48 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind110° @ 4 kt
Visibility70 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point70 F / 0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time16:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data