This August 2007 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.
Aircraft: Piper Super Cruiser.
Location: Kenai, Alaska.
Injuries: None.
Aircraft damage: Substantial.
What reportedly happened: The pilot was attempting to land at a remote 1,100-foot airstrip. An unoccupied Cessna 185 was parked close to the airstrip threshold. During the landing flare, the left wing of the Piper hit the propeller of the Cessna. The Piper then hit the ground and received structural damage to the left wing spar, left aileron, and right elevator. The pilot reported that during the landing his attention was diverted from the parked airplane.
Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from a parked airplane during the landing flare.
