Primary finding
Probable cause
Failure of the pilot to maintain proper alignment with the runway during the landing. Factors relating to the accident were: the crosswind and the proximity of tall corn (crop) to the narrow runway.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot elected to land on a grass runway that was 44 feet wide and had tall corn growing on both side. The landing was made with a 7 knot crosswind. The pilot reported that the airplane touched down on the left main landing gear first, slightly left of the centerline. He stated that the airplane '...yaws...left because [the] left main is on grass first.' the airplane collided with the tall corn at the left side of the runway. The pilot stated that there was no mechanical malfunction and that the accident could have been prevented if the corn had not been grown so close to the runway.
Source record
Factual narrative
On August 4, 1995, at 2010 eastern daylight time, N2418Y, a Cessna 172D, crashed during landing at a private grass field in Hague, Virginia. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The certificated private pilot and his two passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a VFR flight plan was filed. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR 91. The pilot reported that he was on a 45 minute flight from Manassas, VA, to a private airport. He stated that he made,"...a normal standard approach to North runway...flair at full flaps was at stall speed, aircraft floated slightly left just prior to touchdown....touchdown wheel marks are just left of center of runway at approximately 300 feet from approach end of runway. Aircraft's left main gear touched ground first, aircraft yaws slightly left because left main is on grass first." The left wing struck corn stalks and the aircraft spun around. The aircraft was examined at the accident site by an FAA Aviation Safety Inspector. The FAA Inspector reported that the grass strip had corn stalks on both sides, and that the width of the field when measured was actually 44-feet-wide. The Inspector also reported that the aircraft was examined after the accident and no anomalies were noted. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction and that the accident could have been prevented if the corn was not grown so close to the runway. -