Primary finding
Probable cause
the pilot's failure to initiate a timely go-around. A factor was the pilot's misjudgment of distance and speed during the approach.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot said when he was on a 1/2-mile final approach, he realized he was too high and too fast and deployed full flaps. He flared and the airplane touched down, bounced, and touched down again. The pilot then elected to abort the landing. After lift off, the stall warning horn sounded and the pilot realized he would be unable to clear the trees ahead. He landed in a field, applied maximum braking, and collided with trees approximately 1,000 feet beyond the departure end of the runway.
Source record
Factual narrative
On April 27, 1996, approximately 0945 central daylight time, a Cessna 182P, N20737, operated by Northwest Wings Flying Club, Inc., was destroyed when it collided with trees during a balked landing at Fordyce, Arkansas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed. The private pilot and one passenger were not injured. The flight originated at Fayetteville, Arkansas, approximately one hour before the accident. The pilot said when he was on a 1/2-mile final approach to runway 22 (3,200 ft. x 50 ft), he realized he was too high and too fast and he deployed full flaps. He flared and the airplane touched down, bounced, and touched down again. He elected to abort the landing. After lift off, the stall warning horn sounded and he realized he would be unable to clear the trees ahead. He landed in a field, applied maximum braking, and collided with trees approximately 1,000 feet beyond the departure end of the runway. -