Event SEA01LA140

Factual narrative

On July 21, 2001, approximately 1547 Pacific daylight time, a Boeing E75N1 airplane, N65900, registered to and being flown by an airline transport pilot, was substantially damaged in a gear collapse and ground loop during landing on runway 21L during an antique biplane show at Felts Field, Spokane, Washington. The pilot and one passenger were not injured in the accident. Visual meteorological conditions, with variable winds at 5 knots, were reported at Felts Field at 1553, and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR 91 local personal flight from Felts Field. The pilot reported that he departed in a flight of two for the local flight, since his airplane did not have a radio and Felts Field's control tower was in operation at the time. The pilot stated that on the landing approach, the lead aircraft slowed to allow another aircraft to clear the runway, which decreased the spacing between the two aircraft in the formation. He reported that he was approximately 100 to 150 yards behind the lead aircraft at touchdown on the 3,059-foot by 75-foot asphalt runway, which he reported was dry at the time. The pilot reported that the touchdown was normal, "but after a couple hundred feet of ground roll I encountered the wake turbulence of the lead [aircraft]." The pilot stated that he became unable to maintain directional control in the lead aircraft's wake turbulence, with the aircraft "veering left [and] right". The pilot stated that on a veer to the left, the right landing gear failed, and that the right wing then contacted the ground. The pilot indicated on his NTSB accident report that no mechanical failure or malfunction was involved in the accident. The pilot reported winds at the time as being from 160 degrees at 9 knots, and the 1553 Felts Field METAR observation reported winds as variable at 5 knots. The pilot reported that he departed in a flight of two for the local flight at an antique biplane show, since his airplane did not have a radio and the airport's control tower was in operation at the time. The pilot stated that on the landing approach, the lead aircraft slowed to allow another aircraft to clear the runway, which decreased the spacing between the two aircraft in the formation. He reported that he was approximately 100 to 150 yards behind the lead aircraft at touchdown on 3,059-foot by 75-foot asphalt runway 21L, which he reported was dry at the time. The pilot reported that the touchdown was normal, "but after a couple hundred feet of ground roll I encountered the wake turbulence of the lead [aircraft]." The pilot stated that he became unable to maintain directional control in the lead aircraft's wake turbulence, with the aircraft "veering left [and] right". The pilot stated that on a veer to the left, the right landing gear failed, and that the right wing then contacted the ground. The pilot indicated on his NTSB accident report that no mechanical failure or malfunction was involved in the accident. The pilot reported winds at the time as being from 160 degrees at 9 knots, and the 1553 Felts Field METAR observation reported winds as variable at 5 knots. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12