FTW04LA099

While making an approach to a 1,700-foot long dirt strip, situated between two crawfish ponds, the airplane's right main landing gear came in contact with a crawfish boat that had come onto the runway. After impact, the 13,767-hour pilot elected to return to his home base airfield, and during touchdown, the right main landing gear collapsed. The airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted.

On March 26, 2004, approximately 0810 central standard time, a Grumman G-164B single-engine tailwheel-equipped airplane, N8276K, was substantially damaged when a landing gear collapsed during landing following a collision with a crawfish boat near Mamou, Louisiana. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the aircraft, was not injured. The aircraft was registered to Terry Flying Services Inc., of Franklin, Louisiana, and operated by Central Farmers Flying Services of Ville Platte, Louisiana. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. The local flight originated from Central Farmers Coop Airport (LA25), near Mamou, Louisiana, about 0725.

The pilot stated in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), that the airplane was making a landing at Lane Strip, a 1,700-foot dirt strip situated between two crawfish ponds, approximately 2.5 miles south of LA25. "I noticed to my right that a crawfish boat had came onto the runway. I gave throttle to avoid colliding with the boat, but the Pratt & Whitney R-1340 spit and sputtered before catching wind." The pilot further reported that when the engine "caught wind," he veered left to avoid the boat; however, the right main landing gear, right wing, and spreader struck the front section of the boat.

The 13,767-hour pilot reported in a telephone interview with an NTSB investigator that he never saw the boat until it had entered onto the runway. Once on the runway, the pilot further reported that the boat had come to a stop, and the boat operator was apparently busy and not paying attention to his surroundings.

After impact, the pilot noticed damage to his spreader and wing, but was unable to see the degree of damage to the landing gear. He made a go-around to check the status of the boat operator, "seeing that the boat driver was apparently unharmed, I returned to the base strip."

Upon landing on the sod portion of the airstrip at LA25, the right landing gear collapsed, and the pilot "pulled the mixture just before the prop hit." The airplane nosed over, and came to rest inverted.

Examination of the wreckage by the pilot revealed structural damage to the wings, landing gear, rudder, and the vertical stabilizer.