CEN15LA417

Factual narrative

On September 5, 2015, about 1200 eastern daylight time, a Grumman American AA-5 airplane, N67296, impacted a corn crop during landing rollout on runway 1 (40 feet by 1,200 feet, turf) at the Spring Lake Airport (IN43), Pekin, Indiana. The pilot and pilot-rated passenger were not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The airplane was registered to the pilot-rated passenger and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not operated on a flight plan. The airplane was based at Sumner County Regional Airport (M33), Gallatin, Tennessee. The accident airport, IN43, was the intended destination.The pilot informed Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors that they were planning to look at an ultralight aircraft that was for sale. The individual meeting the pilots reportedly informed them that the runway was 40 feet wide by 2,000 feet long. Upon arrival, the pilot stated that he overflew the runway northbound at 1,500 feet above ground level; the runway appeared to have been "mowed." The pilot subsequently established the airplane on a long final and crossed the approach threshold at 70 mph. As he was landing, he observed corn from the adjacent field protruding into the runway area. He elected to continue the landing rather than attempt a go-around at that point. The left wing ultimately struck the protruding corn crop and the left main wheel dropped off the grass runway, pulling the airplane into the corn. The pilot did not report any preimpact failures or malfunctions related to the airplane. The pilot-rated passenger reported that a section of the adjoining corn crop extended about 6 feet into the left side of the runway area. Otherwise, the runway was "perfect" and appeared to have been recently mowed. He noted that the pilot conducted a "high pass" before landing in order to assess the runway condition, but they did not observe the intervening corn crop. The left wing subsequently impacted the corn during the landing rollout while the airplane was still traveling about 45 mph. A postaccident examination of the runway by FAA inspectors determined that the basic landing area was approximately 40 feet wide by 1,200 feet long. However, about 375 feet from the approach/landing threshold, a portion of the crop from the adjacent corn field was planted into the landing area and reduced the available runway width to approximately 32 feet 6 inches. Damage to the corn crop in that area was consistent with contact from the accident airplane. The airplane wingspan was 31 feet 5 inches. The Spring Lake Airport (IN43) is a private use airport and permission is required prior to landing. The private pilot reported that he inquired about the runway condition at the intended destination private-use airport before the accident flight. He was informed that the runway was 40 ft wide by 2,000 ft long. Upon arrival, the pilot overflew the runway at 1,500 ft above ground level and noted that the runway appeared to have been "mowed." The pilot subsequently established the airplane on a long final. As he was landing, he observed corn extending from an adjacent field into the runway area. He chose to continue the landing rather than attempt a go-around. During the landing, the left wing struck the protruding corn crop, and the left main wheel dropped off the grass runway and pulled the airplane into the corn. The pilot did not report any preimpact failures or malfunctions with the airplane. A postaccident examination of the runway environment revealed that the runway width had been reduced from about 40 to 32 ft in the area of the impinging corn crop, which was located about 375 ft from the approach end of the runway. The airplane's wingspan was 31 ft 5 inches. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

• C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
• C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C
• C Environmental issues-Operating environment-Airport facilities/design-Runway/landing area condition-Effect on operation - C
• F Environmental issues-Operating environment-Airport facilities/design-Runway/landing area condition-Awareness of condition - F
• F Personnel issues-Action/decision-Info processing/decision-Decision making/judgment-Pilot - F
• F Environmental issues-Operating environment-Airport facilities/design-Runway/landing area condition-Availability of related info - F