PIPER PA 22
Breckenridge, MI — July 18, 2017
Event Information
| Date | July 18, 2017 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | GAA17CA416 |
| Event ID | 20170719X12704 |
| Location | Breckenridge, MI |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 43.26250, -84.89250 |
| Airport | Ron's Private strip |
| Highest Injury | NONE |
Aircraft
| Make | PIPER |
| Model | PA 22 |
| Category | AIR |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 1 |
| Total Injured | 0 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The pilot’s loss of situational awareness during the approach over a corn field, which resulted in collision with corn stalks.
Full Narrative
The pilot reported that he was practicing short-field, touch and go landings on the private grass airstrip. The final leg of the approach was over a cornfield and a road perpendicular to the approach end of the airstrip.
During final, the main landing gear struck corn stalks that were about 6-feet tall, the airplane landed short and struck the road. The right main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane slid across the road and onto the grass airstrip. The nose of the airplane dug into the grass and dirt, and the airplane nosed over.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right-wing strut and the rudder.
The pilot reported that, "This accident was pilot error" and that, "I believe that I fixated on the beginning of the grass and was oblivious to the height of the corn."
The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.