Primary finding
Probable cause
the pilot's misjudgement of his distance and altitude relationship to the runway, which resulted in an undershoot and failure to achieve the proper touchdown point for landing.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot reported that during a landing, the airplane touched down short of the dirt runway and struck a log, which broke the nose wheel axle. The airplane subsequently ground looped and came to rest beside the runway.
Source record
Factual narrative
On December 29, 1995, at 1000 hours mountain standard time, a Cessna 150L, N1246Q, landed short of the runway at Quartzite, Arizona, and struck a log. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the operation. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The flight originated at Quartzite on the day of the accident at 0930 as a local area personal flight. In his written statement, the pilot reported that he touched down short of the dirt runway and struck a log, which broke the nose wheel axle. The aircraft subsequently ground looped off the runway. -