N6195V

On August 22, 2003, at 1835 eastern daylight time, an amateur-built Staudacher S-1000, N6195V, piloted by a student pilot, sustained substantial damage during an on-ground collision with a visual approach slope indicator (VASI) system while landing at Luce County Airport (ERY), Newberry, Michigan. The pilot was attempting to land on runway 29 (4,300 feet by 75 feet, asphalt). Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot reported no injuries. The flight departed Gross Airport (52I), Pinconning, Michigan, at 1350.

According to the student pilot's written statement, while on final approach to runway 29 the airplane encountered a "very strong [wind] gust from the right (north)." The pilot reported the airplane "rolled left with a sudden drop of altitude." The pilot stated he increased engine power, but the aircraft impacted the runway. The pilot reported the airplane bounced off the runway and began to drift off the left side of the runway. The pilot stated he saw the VASI system and "heard a thud" when the airplane impacted it. The pilot reported he was able to regain aircraft control and landed on runway 04 (2,900 feet by 150 feet, turf) without further incident. The pilot stated the left stabilizer and elevator were damaged during the collision with the VASI system.

The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane prior to the impact with the VASI system.

The student pilot's most recent 90-day solo endorsement was on August 24, 2002.

The ERY automated weather observing system (AWOS) recorded the following information at 1836:

Wind 320 degrees true at 9 knots gusting to 17 knots; 10 statute mile visibility; sky clear; temperature 22 degrees Celsius; dew point of 13 degrees Celsius; altimeter 30.06 inches-of-mercury.