# NTSB FTW95LA060: Howard DGA-15P, N88WT, Las Cruces, NM, December 3, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 3, 1994, 10:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place: Las Cruces, NM
- Coordinates: 32.259243, -106.820892 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.2592&lon=-106.8209&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 18, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 19317
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW95LA060
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19317/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95LA060

## Probable cause

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

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, landing - roll
  - maintenance - inadequate, other maintenance personnel (cause)
  - landing gear,main gear - cracked (contributing factor)
  - landing gear,main gear - collapsed (contributing factor)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - ground loop/swerve - encountered, pilot in command

## Analysis

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.

## Factual 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.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N88WT (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Howard Aircraft Corp. DGA-15P
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 782
- Airframe hours: 1300
- Engines: P&W R985-AN12 450 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Michael & Wanda Fishburn
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 10, 1994, 23 hours before
- Airport: LCR, Las Cruces Municipal, runway 30, 7,494 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 11,500 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 110° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 70 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ELP, 30 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19941203046509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941203046509A), Dec 3, 1994: Howard DGA15P, Las Cruces, NM, Substantial damage. Right main gear broke on landing roll. Ground looped off runway. Found prexisting fatigue cracks in gear structure.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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