N5299G

On May 4, 1999, about 1030 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 305, N5299G, was substantially damage during landing at the Grundy Municipal Airport, Grundy, Virginia. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91, that departed the Virginia Highlands Airport, Abingdon, Virginia.

The pilot arrived at Abingdon at 0930, and preflighted the airplane. About 0945, he started the airplane's engine, conducted a radio check with UNICOM, and then taxied to runway 6. While holding short of runway 6, he checked the airplane's ignition system, carburetor heat, and alternator. He identified no anomalies. The pilot then taxied the airplane onto the runway, and advanced the throttle. After takeoff, the pilot exited the traffic pattern via a left crosswind, and climbed to an en route altitude of 4,000 feet msl.

After flying for approximately 25 minutes, the pilot arrived in the Grundy area, but he did not go directly to the airport. Instead, he flew around town for about 10 minutes enjoying the sights. After deciding to land, the pilot announced over Grundy's UNICOM frequency that he was entering the traffic pattern via a left downwind for runway 22.

While on downwind and abeam the numbers, the pilot retarded the throttle and configured the airplane with 10 degrees of flaps. The pilot turned from base to final approximately 500 feet agl and 1/2 mile from the runway. On final he reconfigured the airplane with 30 degrees of flaps and slowed to 70 mph.

The airplane crossed the approach end of the runway, and the pilot initiated a flare. The pilot stated that, at that point, "everything was normal." The airplane then touched down smoothly, tail wheel first. The nose of the airplane then started to drift to the right. The pilot added "hard left rudder," and the nose of the airplane transitioned from the right side of center line to the left side of center line. As the airplane approached the left side of the runway, the pilot elected to abort the landing. He advanced the throttle, the engine responded, and the airplane yawed further left while becoming airborne. The airplane continued to drift left, and the propeller made contact with a tree that was approximately 50 feet to the left, and 15 feet higher then the runway.

After the propeller strike, the airplane assumed approximately a 30 degree nose down attitude for about 2 seconds, then impacted another group of trees. The airplane came to rest up right. The pilot noticed fuel leaking from both wings, so he shut off all switches, and exited the airplane.

The pilot estimated that the weather was clear with winds out of the north at 3 to 4 knots. In addition, he had logged 150 hours of total flight experience, and 21 hours of flight experience in tailwheel airplanes. The pilot was signed off for tailwheel airplanes on December 28, 1998.