N780AX – DORNIER DO 27 B5 – 2012-07-22 NTSB Accident Report

On July 22, 2012, a Dornier DO 27 B5 (N780AX) was involved in an incident near Jackson Hole, WY. All 2 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.

The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, resulting in the collapse of the main landing gear.

The pilot reported that during a cross-country flight he was unable to maintain a sufficient climb rate to clear the mountainous terrain, and he initiated an off airport precautionary landing to a nearby alpine meadow. When the airplane touched down, the left main landing gear collided with a large rock and collapsed. The airplane bounced and touched down a second time and slid approximately 150 feet to a stop. The airplane’s fuselage and under carriage sustained substantial damage during the accident sequence. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operations.

This incident is documented in NTSB report WPR12CA319. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N780AX.