Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
the pilot's failure to attain the proper touchdown point on the airstrip. Factors associated with the accident were the high vegetation which skewed the pilot's visual perception of threshold, and the embankment which the airplane contacted.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
On September 22, 1997, at 1800 central daylight time, a Cessna 182, N7331Q, owned and operated by a private pilot collided with the terrain when it touched down short of the prepared grass surface at a private airstrip in Dassel, Minnesota. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The local flight which was operating under 14 CFR Part 91 originated from the private airstrip at 1730.
The pilot reported that the accident occurred during his second landing and that he was attempting to land a little shorted then he did during the first landing. He reported that he thought he was on a proper glideslope for the landing, but when he reduced the power he heard a "whaping" noise and the airplane pitched down as he crossed the threshold. The airplane contacted the terrain in a nose low attitude collapsing the nose gear prior to coming to a stop.
The pilot reported, "... the grass preceding the threshold had not been cut and was long enough to hide a 15-18" sloped embankment at the end of the runway. The taller grass preceding the end of the runway evidently gave me the impression the runway was lower causing me to come in on too low of an approach and strike top 3" of embankment."
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CHI97LA307