Hermiston Muni Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Hermiston, Oregon 97838
Friday, June 24, 2005 10:00 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that during the take off ground roll on the sod covered airstrip, the left main wheel hit something, possibly a badger hole. The pilot stated that be began to lose directional control, so he pulled the airplane into the air. The airplane remained airborne for a few seconds, then touched down hard on the left main wheel again. The pilot was able to get the airplane airborne and circled the airstrip. A person on the ground was in radio contact with the pilot and reported that the left main gear was collapsed. At this time there appeared to be no other damage and the pilot decided to fly to another airport with a paved runway. The pilot set-up for a landing in a "full stall 2-point landing on the right side of the runway." When the left side came down on the collapsed gear, the aircraft slid off the left side of the runway and turned about 45 degrees to the left before coming to a stop. During the landing roll, the airplane sustained a propeller strike and the left side horizontal stabilizer contacted the surface resulting in substantial damage.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff ground roll which resulted in overload damage to the main landing gear. During the landing roll, it was not possible to maintain aircraft control due to the previously damaged gear. Encounter with rough terrain during the takeoff ground roll, and an overloaded and subsequently collapsed main landing gear were factors.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/24/2005
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1000
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Hermiston
Event State OREGON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 97838
Event Date Year 2005
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 454900N
Event Location Longitude 1191555W
Event Location Airport Hermiston Muni
Event Location Nearest Airport ID HRI
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling --
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) --
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency --
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 18364
NTSB Notification Source Pilot
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Sep 13 2005 12:54PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N333DD
NTSB Number SEA05CA131
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion --
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Maule
Aircraft Model M-7-235B
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 23014C
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft --
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed --
ELT Activated --
ELT Aided Location of Event Site --
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Paul J. Dickerson
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Spokane
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode --
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board --
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code --
Departure City La Grande
Departure State OR
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone --
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code HRI
Destination City Hermiston
Destination State OR
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 7 2005 12:49PM
User who most recently changed record STAM
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 22
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --