N59WA

On March 28, 1999, at 1345 Eastern Standard Time, a Cessna 206, N59WA, collided with a taxiway sign while landing at Fayetteville Regional Airport, Fayetteville, North Carolina. The airplane was operated by the commercial pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the accident site and a VFR flight plan was filed. The pilot and four passengers were not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The personal flight originated at Pope Air Force Base at 1225 Eastern Standard Time.

According to the pilot, on arrival, he was cleared for runway 22 and was notified by the tower of winds from 280 degrees at ten knots. The pilot stated that touchdown on the right main gear seemed normal, but as the left main and nose gear contacted the runway, the aircraft swerved sharply to the right. The pilot was unable to stop the turn and the airplane departed the runway and collided with a taxiway sign.

According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector who examined the wreckage, the bottom of the fuselage received longitudinal scratching and punctures, the nose gear trunnion was bent to the left, the nose gear support braces were broken, and the right horizontal stabilizer forward spar was bent upwards. The subsequent examination of the fractured components disclosed overstress failures. No mechanical problems with the airplane were reported by the pilot.