Probable cause
The pilot's misjudged landing flare. A contributing factor was the glare from the sun.
NTSB analysis
The pilot reported that as he approached the airport, he was unable to see the runway due to the sun being low on the horizon until he was on a close left base for the 10,502 foot-long runway. The pilot stated that he was faster than normal as he leveled the airplane to make a wheel landing about halfway down the runway. Upon touchdown, the airplane bounced and became airborne. As it settled back onto the runway, the main landing gear collapsed. The airplane veered to the left, struck a taxiway sign, and came to rest upright, adjacent to the runway. Examination of the airplane revealed that the undercarriage attach points in the fuselage sustained structural damage, and the right main landing gear was separated. No mechanical anomalies with the airframe or engine were reported.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for SEA08CA121 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- May 4, 2008
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Great Falls, Montana
- Nearest airport
- Great Falls International Airp (KGTF)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Extra Flugzeugbau EA300/L
- N-number
- N272X
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
Other records under this N-number
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.