Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's improper touchdown point during landing and his delayed decision to execute a go-around. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's vision being obscured by the rain.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On September 25, 2010, approximately 1730 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, N6484R, registered to and operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged when it struck a fence after landing at a private airstrip at Basehor, Kansas. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot and his passenger were not injured. The flight originated at an undetermined location and at an undetermined time.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the pilot said he landed downwind and long on a wet grass airstrip. The airplane went off the end of the runway, struck a fence, and came to a stop in a corn field.
According to the pilot's accident report, his first approach was "too fast" so he abandoned the landing and went around for a second attempt. The pilot wrote, "Indications were wind out of the south. Rain showers obscured my vision. I attempted to land anyway. I did not believe I could safely stop the airplane and attempted to take off. I clipped a fence and crash landed in a corn field a mile away."
Winds recorded at Kansas City International Airport (MCI) and Kansas City Downtown Airport (MKC), located 20 and 25 miles northeast of the accident site, respectively, were from 070 degrees at 10 knots, gusting to 16 knots.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CEN10LA575