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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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July 26, 2001 · Mcintosh Steen Skybolt · N2261N

Lebanon, IN

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 26, 2001
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Lebanon, IN
Aircraft
Mcintosh Steen Skybolt
Tail Number
N2261N
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CHI01LA261

The airplane nosed over after colliding with a soybean crop on the left side of the runway while landing. The pilot reported that he was flying the airplane from the rear seat which limited his forward visibility of the runway so he used the following landing technique. "Make an early turn from base to final and follow a flight path that lies at an angle of 10 to 20 degrees to the runway heading until the aircraft passes over the runway edge at minimal altitude, align the aircraft with the runway heading using rudder only and promptly flare." The pilot reported that he "...misjudged his altitude and/or rate of descent and the aircraft failed to clear the soybeans growing along the left edge of the runway." He reported the left main gear contacted the soybeans and the airplane turned to an approximate 360 degree heading. The pilot applied full power in an attempt to gain altitude but "...the drag on the left wing in contact with the tops of the soybean plants prevented the building of airspeed." The pilot then reduced the throttle and the airplane settled into the soybeans and came to rest inverted. The pilot reported that he "...attributes the cause of this accident to his error in either selecting the wrong technique for final approach, or failing to maintain proper glide path to clear the crop growing at the runway edge. It is possible that the low angle of the sun and the resultant long shadow cast by the soybeans on to the runway contributed to the pilot's misjudgment of the height of the crop."

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot misjudged his altitude during the landing. A factor was the soybean crop which the airplane contacted.

Full Narrative

On July 26, 2001, at 1945 eastern daylight time, a McIntosh Steen Skybolt, N2261N, nosed over after colliding with a soybean crop on the left side of runway 36 (private, 2,600 feet by 60 feet, grass), at the Lehrman Airfield, Lebanon, Indiana. The pilot was not injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. The 14 CFR Part 91 local flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight originated from the Lehrman Airfield at about 1900. The pilot reported that he was flying the airplane from the rear seat which limited his forward visibility of the runway so he used the following landing technique: "Make an early turn from base to final and follow a flight path that lies at an angle of 10 to 20 degrees to the runway heading until the aircraft passes over the runway edge at minimal altitude, align the aircraft with the runway heading using rudder only and promptly flare." The pilot reported that he "...misjudged his altitude and/or rate of descent and the aircraft failed to clear the soybeans growing along the left edge of the runway." He reported the left main gear contacted the soybeans and the airplane turned to an approximate 360 degree heading. The pilot applied full power in an attempt to gain altitude but "...the drag on the left wing in contact with the tops of the soybean plants prevented the building of airspeed." The pilot then reduced the throttle and the airplane settled into the soybeans and came to rest inverted. The pilot reported that he "...attributes the cause of this accident to his error in either selecting the wrong technique for final approach, or failing to maintain proper glide path to clear the crop growing at the runway edge. It is possible that the low angle of the sun and the resultant long shadow cast by the soybeans on to the runway contributed to the pilot's misjudgment of the height of the crop."

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time19:45 EDT
Nearest AirportLEHRMAN (0nm)
Runway36
Runway Length2600 ft
Runway Width60 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftMcintosh Steen Skybolt
Tail NumberN2261N
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-540-D4A5 · Reciprocating · 260
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 51 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind40° @ 10 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 25000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point61 F
Altimeter30.11 inHg
Observation Time23:55
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data