N7205A

On March 25, 1997, at 1547 central standard time (cst), a Curtiss Wright P-40E, N7205A, piloted by a Canadian private pilot, ran off the side of runway 35L (7349'x 150' dry/asphalt) at Grand Forks International Airport, Grand Forks, North Dakota. The airplane sustained substantial damage when its right main landing gear collapsed upon landing, veering the airplane off the runway into a snowbank. The Canadian private pilot reported no injuries. The ferry 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was filed. The flight departed Carman, Manitoba, Canada, at 1502 cst.

According to the pilot's written statement, he was ferrying the airplane to Grand Forks, ND, to clear U.S. Customs with the airplane owner flying chase in a Beechcraft Bonanza. The pilot stated at touch down "...the landing was smooth but the R. H. (right) gear (main) retracted on touch down." The pilot was no longer able "...to hold A/C straight and ground looped..." to the right of the runway.

A witness observed the landing sequence and said the approach looked normal but in the her opinion the aircraft seemed to flare high and contacted the ground rather hard. The Federal Aviation Administration Inspector examined the right main landing gear and said that the retractable landing gear had been jury rigged in the down position with cables, which on the right side failed. Inspection of the left side revealed only a few cable strands still holding.