Bucker Flugzeugbau BU-131 accident near Arlington, Washington, July 23, 1993
On July 23, 1993 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Bucker Flugzeugbau BU-131, registered N1XW, was substantially damaged in an accident near Arlington, Washington (Arlington Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF THE BRAKES. THE GUSTY, CROSSWIND WAS A FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 23, 1993 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Arlington, Washington · Arlington Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bucker Flugzeugbau BU-131
- Registration
- N1XW · no longer on the register · serial 628
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER TOUCHDOWN IN A GUSTY CROSSWIND, THE PILOT BEGAN HARD BRAKING IN ORDER TO TURN OFF THE RUNWAY AT THE FIRST TAXIWAY. THE HARD BRAKING, AND THE SIDE LOADS EXERTED ON THE GEAR STRUCTURE IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE RAPID DECELERATION, RESULTED IN COLLAPSE OF THE MAIN GEAR STRUT.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 2,644 hours in all; 324 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 2,644 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 964 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 13, 1993; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Euzalde TIRGE G-IV (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 5,333 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 7 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,000 ft; not recorded at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N1XW the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.