Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance, resulting in an in-flight collision with an airport sign.
Aircraft Information
Analysis
According to the pilot he was practicing full stop landings at the Oliver Springs Airport, Oliver Springs, Tennessee. On his fifth landing he flew a left hand pattern for runway 15. He performed a slip on final approach and realized that the airplane was too low and also short of the runway. He added power, and believed he would be able to make the landing on the runway. During the landing flare the right main gear collided with a runway marker sign. As the airplane settled onto the runway, it veered off to the right side and collided with a ditch. The pilot did not report any flight control or mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident. Examination by an FAA inspector revealed that the right main landing gear was separated from the fuselage. Further examination revealed that the airplane's firewall and fuselage were buckled.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ATL07CA053