ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 385620
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| Date: | Friday 13 July 2001 |
| Time: | 10:15 LT |
| Type: |  Piper PA-28-181 |
| Owner/operator: | |
| Registration: | N4920F |
| MSN: | 28-7790073 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1977 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 3453 hours |
| Engine model: | Lycoming O-360-A4M |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Tekoa, WA -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Approach |
| Nature: | Training |
| Departure airport: | Unknown |
| Tekoa, WA (73S) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The non-current pilot, who was undergoing a 14 CFR 61.56 flight review with a flight instructor, was practicing a short field landing. According to airport data at the Internet site www.airnav.com, a 4-foot terrain rise is located 80 feet from the end of the runway. The pilots stated that this rise had a heavy growth of wheat about 3 to 4 feet tall at the time. The trainee pilot stated that the wheat at that time "was a solid dark green which gave no depth perception", which he stated "in essence created an invisible...wall" on short final. While on short final, the aircraft contacted the wheat, causing a rapid deceleration and loss of altitude (the flight instructor stated that once he noticed the terrain rise, he was unable to get on the controls before the aircraft contacted the wheat.) The airplane subsequently struck an approximately 2-foot-high bank along a dirt road approximately 40 feet from the end of the runway. As the aircraft crossed over this bank, all three wheels caught on the bank and sheared off. The aircraft then came down on the runway and slid down the runway for about 250 to 300 feet. According to the U.S. Government Airport/Facility Directory, the runway has a yellow centerline marking only, and the markings are very faded. The runway does not have a displaced threshold or visual approach slope indicator (VASI), and the U.S. Government Airport/Facility Directory lists obstructions for the runway as a powerline.
Probable Cause: The non-current pilot's failure to maintain sufficient altitude or clearance with wheat crops on short final, and the flight instructor's inadequate remedial action. Factors included wheat crops and a dirt bank on short final, the runway's lack of a visual approach slope indicator installation, and a visual illusion (wheat crop matched background color) that impaired both pilots' ability to visually detect the wheat crops.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB SEA01LA130
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 05-Apr-2024 06:06 | ASN Update Bot | Added |
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