Event FTW98LA407

Factual narrative

On September 18, 1998, at 0815 central daylight time, a Snow S2C agricultural airplane, N9492R, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during the landing roll at a private airport near Bovina, Texas. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane was owned and operated by Rhodes Crop Care of Bovina. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 local maintenance test flight that departed the airport at 0805. According to a co-owner of Rhodes Crop Care, the pilot completed a spray run over the runway to check the spray pattern and was landing in order to adjust the nozzles when the accident occurred. The pilot reported that after touchdown on runway 09, the tailwheel-equipped airplane began to turn right into the "little bit of south breeze." The pilot "applied left brake, which was mushy, to counteract the turn." The airplane exited the right side of the gravel runway and continued to turn right. The left main landing gear impacted a "one to two foot" dirt bank that paralleled the runway. Subsequently, the left main gear collapsed and the left wing tip struck the ground. According to the FAA inspector who examined the airplane, the outboard section of the left wing was bent upward. During the landing roll, the agricultural airplane exited the right side of the runway and impacted terrain. The pilot reported that after touchdown on runway 09, the tailwheel-equipped airplane began to turn right into the 'little bit of south breeze.' He attempted to counteract the turn, but was unsuccessful. The left main landing gear impacted a 'one to two foot' dirt bank that paralleled the runway. Subsequently, the left main gear collapsed and the left wing tip struck the ground. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12