Primary finding
Probable cause
Failure of the pilot to maintain proper runway alignment during the landing. The lack of adequate runway alignment marking was a related factor.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot landed long on a grass airstrip with a with a gravel road that crossed the strip. He said there was a berm or small downhill grade at the edge of the airstrip. Also, he said the airstrip was not well marked and that it was hard to differentiate between the airstrip and taxiway. The pilot reported that the aircraft landed on the 'downhill grade' and the aircraft started to ground loop. Subsequently, the right main gear collapsed and the right wing contacted the ground.
Source record
Factual narrative
On October 5, 1993, at 1650 Pacific daylight time, a tailwheel equipped Cessna 150E, registered to Jerry M. Meng, ground looped and impacted terrain after landing at the Sandy River Airstrip, Sandy, Oregon. There was no flight plan filed for the local personal flight that departed Troutdale, Oregon, at 1545, October 5, 1993. The ATP pilot and the private certificated owner were not injured in the accident. The aircraft was substantially damaged. There was no fire. The ATP certificated pilot reported he initiated a landing on the grass airstrip during the local proficiency flight and lost directional control during landing roll. He stated that the airstrip is grass, which is not completely level across the width of the airstrip. There is a gravel road across the airport about midway, and there is a berm or small downhill grade on one side of the airstrip. He said the airstrip is not well marked and it is hard to differentiate between the runway and taxiway. He said he apparently landed long beyond the road and on the downhill grade. The airplane started to groundloop shortly after touchdown. -