# NTSB SEA93LA159: Bucker Flugzeugbau BU-131, N1XW, Arlington, WA, July 23, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 23, 1993, 15:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place: Arlington, WA
- Coordinates: 48.180442, -121.670387 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.1804&lon=-121.6704&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 13, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 41736
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA93LA159
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41736/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA93LA159

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF THE BRAKES. THE GUSTY, CROSSWIND WAS A FACTOR.

## Sequence of events

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

- Main gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - landing gear,main gear strut - overload (cause)
  - brakes(normal) - improper use of, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)

## Analysis

AFTER TOUCHDOWN IN A GUSTY CROSSWIND, THE PILOT BEGAN HARD BRAKING IN ORDER TO TURN OFF THE RUNWAY AT THE FIRST TAXIWAY. THE HARD BRAKING, AND THE SIDE LOADS EXERTED ON THE GEAR STRUCTURE IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE RAPID DECELERATION, RESULTED IN COLLAPSE OF THE MAIN GEAR STRUT.

## Factual narrative

On July 23, 1993, at approximately 1530 Pacific daylight time (PDT), a Bucker BU-131, N1XW, experienced a gear collapse during landing roll at Arlington Municipal Airport, Arlington, Washington. The FAA certificated private pilot, who was the sole occupant of the aircraft, was not injured, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The local personal pleasure flight, which was being operated in visual meteorological conditions at the time of the accident, had departed the same airport about one-half hour earlier. The aircraft was not on a filed flight plan, and there was no report of an ELT activation.

The pilot said that he made a firm touchdown in about a seven to ten knot gusty crosswind, and then began hard braking in order to exit the runway at the first taxiway. As he was attempting to slow the aircraft, the gear collapsed and folded back under the airframe.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N1XW (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Bucker Flugzeugbau BU-131
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 628
- Airframe hours: 964
- Engines: EUZALDE TIRGE G-IV 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Johnston, G. And Mcausland, R.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, July 13, 1993, 3 hours before
- Airport: S88, Arlington Municipal, runway 16, 5,333 × 100 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 64; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 2,644 total, 324 in this make and model, 2,644 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 260° at 7 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 52 °F

## 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 19930723025249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930723025249A), Jul 23, 1993: Buker JUNGMANN1131, Arlington, WA, Substantial damage. Landing in gusty crosswind used hard braking to exit taxiway. Landing gear folded back under airframe.

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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