CHI96LA249

the pilot misjudged his altitude and distance to the runway on final approach, and he failed to maintain obstacle clearance during landing. A factor relating to the accident was: the parked car.

During landing, the airplane's left main landing gear hit the roof of a stock car that had been parked on the access road to a grass airstrip. After impacting the car, the airplane landed hard, and the landing gear collapsed. The airplane skidded off the runway, and hit a tree. The pilot reported he saw automobiles parked on the grass airstrip and thought he had enough room to land. Also, he reported that the runway was lined with trees and that the airplane dropped 'quit quickly' when the airplane got below the tree line. The entire length of the 2,000' grass runway was available beyond where the automobiles were parked.

On July 20, 1996, at 1700 central daylight time, a Cessna 172, N7101T, was destroyed. During landing, the airplane's left main landing gear hit the roof of a stock car that had been parked on an access road to a grass airstrip. After impacting the car, the airplane landed hard and the landing gear collapsed. The airplane skidded off the runway and hit a tree. The private pilot and one passenger reported no injuries. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight had departed from Willmar, Minnesota, and was returning to a private airfield near Emily, Minnesota. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot reported that he saw the parked cars at the end of the 2,000 foot grass runway and thought he had enough room to land. He reported that the runway was lined with trees and that the airplane dropped "quit quickly" when the airplane got below the tree line. An Airworthiness Inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration reported that the automobiles were parked on the airport access road. The entire 2,000 feet of grass runway was available beyond where the automobiles were parked. -