NTSB Factual Report

On June 5, 2001, about 1000 eastern daylight time, a homebuilt Acro Sport, N877CG, was substantially damaged while landing at the Hampton Airport (7B3), Hampton, New Hampshire. The certificated airline transport pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

The airplane was landing on runway 02, a 2,100-foot long, 170-foot wide, turf runway.

In a written statement, the pilot said he performed a normal crosswind touchdown on the left main landing gear and as the airplane slowed, the right main landing gear lowered to the ground. Shortly thereafter, the airplane encountered a soft area of recently spread loam and began to veer to the left. The airplane was still in a two point attitude. The pilot immediately corrected with full right rudder and brake; however he felt "only minor force acting to correct the extreme rapid condition."

The airplane's landing gear began to fold, and the right wing contacted the ground.

The pilot stated he experienced no mechanical problems with the airplane.

According to the airport manager, about 2 inches of topsoil mixed with grass seed had been applied to the runway about a month prior to the accident. The manager added that the runway was soft due to recent precipitation. Additionally, a pilot who landed on the runway about a week prior to the accident reported he also experienced a "hard pull to one side" in the same area as the accident airplane.

The winds reported at an airport about 8 miles north of Hampton Airport, about the time of the accident, were from 280 degrees at 9 knots, and variable between 260 and 330 degrees.

NTSB Probable Cause

A soft area in the turf runway, which resulted in a loss of directional control during the landing rollout.