N7904V

On November 8, 2000, about 1630 Eastern Standard Time, a Cessna 180H, N7904V, was substantially damaged during a landing at a private airstrip in Long Lake, New York. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan had been filed for the flight, which originated at Adirondack Regional Airport (SLK), Saranac Lake, New York. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the 1,000-foot airstrip had just been constructed, and the pilot was the first to attempt a landing on it. The pilot made three passes over the airstrip, then landed over 30- to 40-foot trees, in a northwesterly direction. During the landing, the airplane bounced twice, and veered toward the right. It then made a final touchdown, and veered off the airstrip. It impacted a boulder and a tree stump, and spun around, about 180 degrees.

The inspector asked the pilot why he didn't abort the landing, and the pilot stated that he hadn't thought about it. The pilot also stated that the airplane had just come off floats 3 weeks earlier.

Weather, recorded at an airport approximately 20 nautical miles to the north, about 20 minutes before the accident, included clear skies, and winds from 190 degrees true, at 3 knots.