Piper PA-22-160 N9019D accident near Fruitland, Utah

Probable cause

The pilot’s improper landing flare.

NTSB analysis

The pilot reported that the windsock indicated light winds straight down the runway and he encountered some light headwind gusts on short final. During the flare, the airplane ballooned and he applied power to smooth the descent. The pilot stated that the landing was a full stall hard landing, which was the only type of landing he ever performed. The left main landing gear subsequently collapsed, the left wing dropped, and the airplane veered to the right. Despite the pilot's control inputs, the airplane exited the right side of the runway surface and impacted a drainage berm. Federal Aviation Administration inspectors examined the airplane and observed that the landing gear shock cord’s retainer lug fractured and separated. The cords released, which caused them to lose all of the tension required to perform their intended function. The structure had no indication of previous cracking or fatigue, and there were 45-degree shear lips around the entire circumference of the fracture surface indicative of an overload condition.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR10LA207 for the full record.