LAX02LA103

The landing gear collapsed after the airplane veered off the runway and into a plowed field during an aborted landing attempt. The pilot was landing with a left rudder correction for the existing crosswind. On initial touchdown, the airplane swerved off the left side of the runway. He added full power, and initiated an aborted landing. The pilot realized he would not be able to takeoff, closed the throttle, and went into a broccoli field. The encounter with the soft furrowed field collapsed the landing gear.

On March 7, 2002, at 1130 Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-28R-180, N800RC, veered off runway 14 during an attempted aborted landing, and came to rest in a broccoli field at the Harris Ranch Airport (3O8), Coalinga, California. The airplane, rented from Memley Aviation, Inc., by the pilot and operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, sustained substantial damage. The private pilot and one passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local area flight that departed from the Fresno-Chandler Downtown Airport, Fresno, California, about 1100. No flight plan had been filed.

Through a written statement, the pilot said that he lost control during landing. The pilot had left rudder applied for the right sideslip he had initiated for landing in the crosswind conditions. As the airplane touched down, it veered left off of the runway. The pilot then attempted an immediate takeoff on the "side of the runway;" however, he realized he would not be able to takeoff and closed the throttle. He then fast taxied into row crops and the landing gear "folded."