Event IAD01LA072

Factual narrative

On June 27, 2001, at 1500 Eastern Daylight Time, a Bellanca 8GCBC, N8582V, was substantially damaged during landing rollout on runway 36 at Bunting's Field Airport (4MD1), Berlin, Maryland. The certificated commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the banner towing flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In a telephone interview, the pilot reported that it was normal banner towing day. He landed to the north and was about to bring the tail down when the left wing came up. The pilot tried to correct for it, but "couldn't get the wing down fast enough." The airplane was pushed to the right side of the runway, and the right main tire was pulled into an area of tall weeds. The airplane then struck a dirt pile located in the weeds. Additionally, the pilot reported a left crosswind, which had been gusting up to 12 knots. A wind sock was located on the field, and the pilot reported that it was "just about fully extended during the day." A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector performed an on-scene investigation. According to the inspector, the right main landing gear had broken off and collapsed. The right wing spar was broken just outboard of the wing strut, and the propeller was bent. Examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical deficiencies. The pilot reported a total of 200 hours in tailwheel aircraft, of which 60 hours were in make and model. Runway 36 was a 3,000-foot-long, by 50-foot-wide turf strip. Winds reported at Salisbury/Ocean City Wicomico Regional Airport (SBY), Salisbury, Maryland, at 1854, were variable at 6 knots. During landing roll-out on the 3,000- foot- long 50-foot- wide turf runway, the tailwheel airplane encountered a left crosswind and the left wing started to rise. The pilot tried to correct for the rising wing, but "couldn't get the wing down fast enough." The airplane veered to the right side of the runway, and collided with a mound of dirt. The pilot reported that there was a left crosswind throughout the day, which gusted to 12 knots. Examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical deficiencies. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12