Stockton Metropolitan Airport: Stockton, California

Accident occurred Saturday, November 28, 2009 in Stockton, CA
Probable Cause Approval Date: 3/23/2010
Aircraft: PIPER PA-18-150, registration: N83516
Injuries: 1 Uninjured.
The pilot was landing at an airport. He requested to land on a taxiway next to runway 29L. The air traffic control tower controller cleared the airplane to land on the taxiway; however, the pilot landed the airplane in the grass next to the taxiway. The pilot reported that during the landing roll, a gust of wind lifted the right wing. He did not have enough control authority to correct the elevated wing and the airplane nosed-over. The Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane and noted that the rear spar on the right wing was broken. At the time of the landing, the winds were reported from 350 at 22 knots, gusting to 30 knots.
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Accident occurred Wednesday, October 31, 2007 in Stockton, CA
Probable Cause Approval Date: 12/20/2007
Aircraft: Piper PA-18-150, registration: N4153M
Injuries: 2 Uninjured.
The pilot reported that while taxing the tailwheel-equipped airplane into position for takeoff from a private airstrip, the main landing gear struck a ditch stopping the aircraft's forward movement almost instantly. Subsequently, the aircraft nosed over and came to rest in an inverted position. Examination of the aircraft by the pilot revealed that the rudder and two lift struts were bent. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies with the aircraft at the time of the accident.
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On September 30, 2007, about 1515 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-32R-301T, N4175A, landed with retracted landing gear at the Stockton Metropolitan Airport, Stockton, California, following a hard landing at another airport. The airplane was registered to N4175, LLC, and it was operated by the company's owner on a personal flight. The airplane was substantially damaged, and neither the private pilot nor passenger was injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight was performed under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and it originated from San Carlos, California, about 1330.

In pertinent part, the pilot reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that his planned destination was the Pine Mountain Lake (uncontrolled) Airport, Groveland, California. He had landed at Pine Mountain during the past 4 to 6 years, and he was familiar with the runway environment.

Pine Mountain's runway 09/27 is 3,625 feet long and 50 feet wide. The runway has an asphalt surface.

The pilot reported that the flight to Pine Mountain was uneventful. During his approach to runway 27 he noted that the wind was from the south, so he placed the airplane into a crab on the final approach leg. The pilot reported that nearing the runway and "just before coming over the threshold" about 20 feet above the ground, "there was a sudden downdraft and the plane rapidly and suddenly sunk toward the ground." The right main landing gear impacted the gravel and dirt area about 10 feet in front and to the right of the runway. The pilot aborted the landing and performed a go-around.

Ground-based witnesses observed the mishap and informed the pilot that the airplane's landing gear appeared damaged. The pilot diverted to Stockton where he made an intentional gear up landing.

The airplane was examined by Federal Aviation Administration personnel following its removal from Stockton's runway. The right main landing gear was found broken, structural components in the right wing were found deformed, and the right side of the fuselage was buckled at the bulkhead aft of the wing-to-fuselage attachment point.
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Accident occurred Thursday, April 12, 2007 in Stockton, CA
Probable Cause Approval Date: 6/27/2007
Aircraft: Cessna 172M, registration: N9685Q
Injuries: 1 Minor.
After a loss of engine power, the airplane landed short of the runway, collapsing the nose gear and buckling the engine firewall. The pilot departed with both fuel tanks full. His route of flight usually takes 3 hours to fly. He encountered turbulence and strong winds, which had the effect of increasing the flight time to 4 hours. As he lined up for a straight-in approach to the runway, the engine stopped due to fuel exhaustion. The pilot executed a forced landing short of the approach end of runway and collided with the ground and a fence. The pilot stated that the airplane and engine had no mechanical malfunctions. An FAA inspector examined the airplane at the accident scene and confirmed that there was no fuel onboard.
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On April 1, 2007, at 1100 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 320E, N3424Q, collapsed the right main landing gear while exiting runway 29L at Stockton Metropolitan Airport (SCK), Stockton, California. The pilot/owner operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local area flight that departed SCK about 1000. No flight plan had been filed.

According to the pilot, this was the first flight after an annual inspection. He had flown to Calaveras County-Maury Rasmussen Field Airport (CPU), San Andreas California, refueled, and then flew back to SCK. The pilot noted no mechanical problems with the airplane during the flight until he reached SCK. He stated that the landing and landing rollout were normal. While slowing down to exit the high speed taxiway, he engaged the left rudder to turn to the left, and the right main landing gear collapsed. The right wing struck the runway, and right propeller and right horizontal stabilizer were also damaged. The pilot reported that he exited onto the taxiway at 20 miles per hour (mph). He further reported that during the annual inspection the landing gear had been rerigged.

Reported winds at the time of the accident were variable at 3 knots.

TEST AND RESEARCH

According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the right main landing gear bellcrank (part number 0841225-10) strut attachment bolt (AN4-25A) sheared. This placed an increased load on the remaining main strut attachment clevis ears, which caused the ears to fail and the down lock link assembly to collapse. The FAA inspector stated that his inspection was not able to ascertain whether or not the landing gear had been rigged improperly.

The pilot had the landing gear independently inspected. According to the inspection report, the right side main landing gear fork bolt was deformed in an outward direction at the fork-to-bolt junction. The right main landing gear down indicator switch had been rigged to a point where it made contact at the "earliest possible moment during landing gear extension." The right main landing gear fork bolt had been adjusted to what appeared to be its full outboard limit. The right main landing gear outboard push pull tube rod ends had been adjusted to their shortest possible length. The right landing gear lock link end fitting and the right main landing gear bellcrank were sent to a metallurgical laboratory that reported that the components had failed in overload.

The aircraft logbook entry indicated that the annual inspection had been completed and returned to service in an airworthy condition on April 1, 2007. The entry stated in part that the landing gear had been rigged in accordance with Cessna's service manual.
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On January 24, 2007, about 1300 Pacific standard time, a Ross Hummer Pitts Special, N41HR, nosed over following a loss of control during an aborted takeoff on runway 29L at Stockton Metropolitan Airport, Stockton, California. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, received minor injuries, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91, and no flight plan was filed. The flight was originating when the accident occurred.

During a telephone interview conducted by the NTSB investigator-in-charge on January 25, 2007, the pilot reported that as he added power on the takeoff roll, the engine rpm increased to 1,800 rpm and then stopped increasing. He decided to abort the takeoff and reduced the power. By this time, the tail wheel was off the ground, and he was using the rudder to steer the airplane. The airplane began to turn to the right, so he applied left brake to stop the turn, and the airplane "tipped upside down."

In a written statement, the pilot reported that during the takeoff roll, he "thought there was a slight loss of power." He decided to abort the takeoff and reduced the power. At a speed of about 30 mph, the airplane "suddenly turned sharply as if one of the wheels went into a hole or rut." The pilot applied opposite rudder and brake, but could not stop the turn. The airplane nosed over and came to rest in the inverted position. The pilot stated that the accident was due to "a hole or rut in the pavement or debris such as a piece of aircraft tire."

An FAA inspector responded to the accident site. The inspector reported that runway 29L had two grooved depressions running the length of the runway in the asphalt on either side of the centerline. The grooves had a V shape and were about 4 inches wide and 1 inch deep. The width of the grooves corresponded to the width of the tires installed on the main landing gear of the accident airplane.
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On May 30, 2005, about 1415 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N172MR, veered off runway 29R, and came to rest inverted at Stockton Metropolitan Airport (SCK), Stockton, California. The pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The cross-country personal flight departed Lincoln Regional Airport/Karl Harder Field (LHM), Lincoln, California, about 1330, with a planned destination of Stockton. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.

The pilot submitted a written statement. He reported that on the landing rollout, he applied the right brake too hard, and the airplane drifted to the right and off the runway. The airplane hit a low spot in the dirt and nosed over. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical discrepancies noted with the airplane and engine.
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