CircumFlightN14HM Harry D. Miller Midget Mustang 1 accident
NTSB LAX07CA006 · 2006-10-12 · Reno, NV · near 4SD
Docket — crew, injuries and powerplant
Summary
The airplane veered off the runway and collapsed the landing gear while landing. The pilot said he made a good wheel landing 1,200 feet down the runway. As the airplane slowed down, he had planned to exit the runway at the mid-field turn off. The tail wheel was still in the air when a strong crosswind struck the airplane and it veered off the runway. After the airplane departed the runway, the landing gear collapsed when it encountered soft sand, which caused structural damage to the fuselage and both wings. The pilot stated that the airplane and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight. The pilot and personnel at the scene of the accident reported that the winds were out of the east with gusts around 14 knots. The closest aviation weather reporting facility 11 miles away was reporting variable winds at 3 knots.
Full narrative
On October 12, 2006, at 1205 Pacific daylight time, an experimental Miller Midget Mustang 1, N14HM, veered off runway 08 and collapsed the landing gear during the landing roll at Reno/Stead Airport (4SD), Reno, Nevada. The owner/pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The local personal flight departed Stead about 1030. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The approximate global positioning system (GPS) coordinates of the primary wreckage were 39 degrees 40.02 minutes north latitude and 119 degrees 52.20 minutes west longitude.
The pilot reported that he made a good wheel landing about 1,200 feet down the runway from the threshold of runway 08. As the airplane slowed down, he had planned to exit the runway at the mid-field turn off. The tail wheel was still in the air when a strong crosswind struck the airplane, after which it veered off of the runway. The landing gear collapsed when the airplane encountered soft sand, which caused structural damage to the fuselage and both wings.
The pilot stated that the airplane and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight.
The pilot and personnel at the scene of the accident reported that the winds were out of the east with gusts around 14 knots.
Probable cause
the pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions and failure to maintain directional control during the landing rollout. The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident.
Circumstances
- Event type
- Accident
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather conditions
- Visual Meteorological Cond
- Light condition
- Day
- Sky condition
- NONE
- Ceiling (ft)
- 0
- Visibility (sm)
- 10
- Wind direction
- 0
- Wind speed (kt)
- 3
- Temperature (F)
- 64
- Nearest airport
- RENO/STEAD
- Distance from field
- 0.0
- Airport elevation
- 5050
Aircraft
| Registration | Make | Model | Damage | FAR part |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| N14HM | Harry D. Miller | Midget Mustang 1 | SUBS | 091 |
Sequence of events
| # | Occurrence | Phase |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 260 | Cruise |
| 2 | 320 | Cruise |
| 3 | 190 | Cruise |
Findings
| Finding | |
|---|---|
| 20000 | |
| 24026 | cause |
| 24539 | cause |
| 19200 |