N1293C

On May 23, 1998, at 0835 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 177, N1293C, was substantially damaged during an aborted landing to Baublitz Commercial Airport, Brogue, Pennsylvania. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 and no flight plan was filed. The personal flight departed Reigle Field Airport, Palmyra, Pennsylvania, approximately 0735.

According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the pilot stated the airplane landed nose wheel first and started to porpoise, so he executed a go around. During the maneuver, the airplane drifted left and struck two small trees before coming to rest in a corn field, 40 feet left of Runway 27.

During a telephone interview the pilot stated, he had a little right aileron, and a little right rudder in when the airplane impacted the two trees on the left side of Runway 27. He added, "there were no mechanical problems with the airplane."

In the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the pilot stated that Runway 27 was sloped approximately 8 percent towards the south, about 1/4 of the way down the runway. The pilot provided a diagram depicting two trees approximately 1/4 of the way down Runway 27 with over 50 percent of their surface area encroaching into the runway environment. In addition, he showed the wind from approximately 330 degrees at 8 knots.

The pilot reported 280 hours of total fight experience on his last FAA medical application dated June 7, 1997.