According to the pilot, after an uneventful flight, he verified the current weather conditions about 10 miles from the airport in Nampa, Idaho. After entering the airport traffic pattern, he elected to conduct a “grass landing.”
The Bearhawk touched down normally, but during the landing roll he observed an obstacle in the middle of the “runway.” He was unable to react before the right main landing gear hit a knoll and the airplane ground looped. The right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing was substantially damaged.
The airplane landed on an area of grass between the runway and taxiway when it hit the grass knoll.
According to the airport manager, pilots are advised to land and takeoff on published runways only as prescribed under the airport policy page of the airport’s website. This information is not available in the airport’s chart supplement.
The pilot indicated that he checked the chart supplement for pertinent airport information, which did not include any restrictions about landing on the grass area between the taxiway and runway.
The pilot reported that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Probable Cause: The pilot’s selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which resulted in impact with a knoll and a subsequent ground-loop.
This December 2019 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
From the above note I cannot see why his gear would collapse
since he had tundra tires and the surrounding are looked good
I land in a farm strip that is only a field ( poor pilot skills)
The gear would collapse due to the side load on the gear. The tundra tire will not reduce this but rather increase the load due to more leverage. The distance from the friction point (ground) to the gear attach fittings is increased with larger diameter tires, thereby increasing the force exerted on those fittings. A slow speed ground loop will often have no damage. A higher speed will allow the aircraft to try and slide to the outside of the turn thus creating the side load.
The important thing is land where you should be and keep the tail behind the airplane!
Or the low pressure tundra tire with more side wall flex rolled off the rim causing the wheel to dig in, bringing the weight of the aircraft loaded onto the gear with a more sudden impact.
The most dangerous pilot in an airplane is a newly licensed private pilot who wonders from NORMAL operations.
That actually depends on the person and what someone else considers normal….ie; the chicken little hysteria. Even Einstein was told to get a day job by the all knowing intellects.
It’s an airport so I guess we can just land anywhere, right?
In the words of Major J T “King” Kong in Doctor Strangelove, “I’ve been to one worlds fair, a picnic, and a rodeo, and that’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.”
it doesnt help that “supposed airport engineering firms” r creating holes and hazards everywhere on the airport kvnc and kx06 examples where drainage ditches retention ponds etc have made mild runway excursions very hazardous
Not the responsibility of the engineering firm to keep runway safety areas safe. It’s solely the responsibility of airport managerment.
Sure, blame the Chart supplement:
“The pilot indicated that he checked the chart supplement for pertinent airport information, which did not include any restrictions about landing on the grass area between the taxiway and runway.”
Do we need to include remarks such as:
Don’t land on the grass between the runway and the taxiway.
Don’t land on the sidewalk.
Don’t land on the ramp.
Don’t land on the parking lot.
Don’t land on the hangar roof.
You get the point.
Some great points already made.
Of note: The airport manager’s comment that “pilots are advised to land and takeoff on published runways only as prescribed under the airport policy page of the airport’s website.” Prior to the accident, it stated quite unequivolcally that thou shalt only use the runways.
Interesting that there’s not a 14 CFR Part XX regulation that says the same thing.
I hope there never is one; but working with the local management can be as frustrating as dealing with the feds.
At my own towered airport (‘ZZZ”), we’ve been trying for years to get a grass strip “approved”; there’s plenty of space available parallel to the single existing paved runway. “Not going to happen” says the airport owner/operator (county)…not the FAA.
Take-aways from his misfortune:
Lot’s of regulatory ambushes out there for the unwary; the FAA isn’t the only sheriff in town.
With more folks trying to learn how to be bush pilots by watching YouTube, these incidents will likely increase.
Even flying a 260 hp Bearhawk, the equivalent of having a V-8 in a shopping cart, won’t save you from poor planning/execution.
Glad no one was hurt!
In my neighborhood, I can think of two airports that used to allow (at least unofficially) operations on the grass. Two more that had official grass runways, but no longer. All were publicly owned….
I would not count on any positive response from management concerning grass operations at a publicly owned airport, quite the opposite.
Fortunately, I base my 1929 biplane on a privately owned public use airstrip with parallel pavement and grass runways, both well maintained. Use of the grass is actually encouraged.
We also had a couple of great privately owned/public use airstrips in my area. One is now a shopping mall and the other is a business park.
Since the 1960’s, and without putting too much thought into it, I can think of at least 8 GA airports in my immediate area that are no more.
There are more I am sure….
Your insurance my be void if you attempt a landing on a non-approved grassy area – which is not a authorized runway. Of course the landing could be an emergency.
Another wannabe bush pilot ruining a perfectly good airplane and upping my insurance premium … when is this madness going to end?
Utilizing the grassy areas on an airport for operations maximizes the facilities usefulness However, the process must be well defined and a procedure established. Sit down with airport management and discuss the situation. Our tax dollars pay for almost every airport facility in the country and the wishes and desires of the users must be heard and considered. Landing on grass is a wonderful experience! Work to the solution.
I completely agree with Kenneth’s comment! More airports need to have this discussion, and need to create procedures to accommodate safe turf operations.
This minor accident is unusual, and therefore warrants a story. It resulted from an instance of questionable judgement, as do many of the approximately 1,200 GA accidents each year; in the sky, and on and off the pavement.
Nampa Muni have added this note after this crash, ‘Grass Tkof & Ldg not Authority ‘
Airports here in CA that have a grass landing area have it noted on the airport diagram.
A local airport has pilots of ‘tundra ‘ tired aircraft often land on the grass between the runway and taxiway, also no authorized.
Which is one reason that I moved to another local airport.