This August 2010 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: Cessna 182. Injuries: None. Location: Del Rio, Texas. Aircraft damage: Substantial.
What reportedly happened: The private pilot was attempting to land on a private dirt strip. During the approach, he was distracted by a cow that was adjacent to and moving toward the runway.
Distracted by the cow, the pilot did not notice that he was low on approach. The Cessna touched down short of the runway by about 5 to 10 feet. The airplane struck some rocks on a rise in the terrain and subsequently flipped over.
Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to monitor his altitude while making a visual approach, which resulted in landing short of the runway and subsequent collision with terrain.
For more information: NTSB.gov. NTSB Identification: CEN10CA499
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