During a cross-country flight in the Diamond DA-40, the pilot decided to divert to the airport in Coolidge, Ariz., due to personal needs.
He reported flying the normal pattern and making a stabilized approach. Upon touchdown the plane veered to the left and he corrected with right rudder. The plane then started to rotate to the right and the left wheel departed the landing gear strut.
The police responded to the accident and spoke with the pilot.
Officers examined the skid marks on the runway and made the following observations: The plane touched down on the center of the runway and the skid marks veered towards the left side of the runway until the left main wheel went into the dirt. The pilot overcorrected to the right and as the plane veered to the right the left main tire broke off of the landing gear. The plane then began to spin on its belly for another 50-70 feet before coming to rest facing to the southeast. The plane sustained substantial to the left wing.
The NTSB determined the probable cause as the pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing.
NTSB Identification: WPR14CA140
This March 2014 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
Landing too fast will also cause this type of incident. ?
The use of the phrase “Skid Marks” is not regulated to marks only made by the tires, but any mark
left on or off the pavement by any part of the plane.
I guess this accident took care of his personal needs.
Skid marks?? How can an airplane skid that far and still have tires?
I’ve seen that with incidents at my home airport. Tires that are rolling, but sliding sideways, off their direction of track, will leave skid marks for quite a distance. You’re right about tires that have been locked with the brakes-they don’t last long before they fail.