N137Y

On September 4, 2004, at 1600 eastern daylight time, N137Y, a Grumman-American AA1C Lynx, registered to and operated by a private pilot, collided with a tree following an overrun of runway 31 at Boone Airport, Boone, North Carolina. The personal cross-country flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed. The pilot and passenger were not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight originated at Cobb-McCollum Field, Marietta, Georgia on September 4, 2004 at 1345.

According to the pilot, he practiced short field landings at Cobb-McCollum Field, Marietta, Georgia prior to departing that airport for Boone, North Carolina. He stated that approximately 1545, near the vicinity of Boone Airport, he made requests for airport advisories over the Unicom frequency. He stated that he over flew the Boone Airport at a low altitude and observed that the windsock was stationary and that the runway surface was in good condition. The pilot stated that he flew a traffic pattern for runway 31. He stated that he slowed the airplane to 70 knots and fully extended the flaps. The pilot stated that he landed the airplane "close to the touchdown zone." He stated that he "applied brakes rapidly which loaded pressure to front strut torsion bar [which] responded by springing airplane back into air." The pilot stated that roll out was "successful but damaged wingtip in underbrush at end of field" while completing a 90-degree turn at the end of the runway. No anomalies with the airplane were reported.

A witness in the area observed the airplane make three landing attempts prior the accident. He stated that on the accident landing, he observed the airplane "fishtailing" on the runway prior to departing the runway surface. He further stated that the airplane was landing downwind on runway 31.

Post accident examination of the airplane revealed that the left wing spar and several outboard ribs on the left wing were damaged.

The nearest weather reporting facility in Boone, North Carolina, 3 miles northwest of Boone Airport, reported the winds on September 4, 2004, at 1602, from 130 degrees at 5 knots. The Boone Airport has one runway, designated as 13/31, which is 2100 feet long and 40 feet wide. Runway 31 had a displaced threshold of 500 feet. At the edge of the runway surface of the departure end of runway 31, there is a run-up pad and a 50-foot grass area. Beyond the grass area are trees, 10-20 feet in height.