Pilot Debrief

AERONCA O58B near Jonestown, PA — 2021-11-18

Final reportERA22LA072
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Date
2021-11-18
Location
Jonestown, PA, USA
Airport
8PA1
Aircraft
AERONCA O58B
Registration
N47523
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The pilot’s incorrect glide path and landing flare, which resulted in a collision with obstacles on final approach and a hard landing.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that while on short final he slowed the airplane down and “flared too soon over the runway which caused a hard landing.” Subsequently, the main landing gear collapsed on the grass runway and the airplane skidded to a stop upright. The fuselage sustained substantial damage. Photographs of the accident site revealed that a small bird house attached to a metal pole was struck by the tail of the airplane. The pole was about 5 ft tall co-located with a white fence and was located about 35-40 ft prior to a yellow tire that marked the location of the grass runway’s threshold. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 3 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents3

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