CHI99LA154

Factual narrative

On May 16, 1999, at 1800 central daylight time (cdt), a Cessna R182, N738WK, operated by Thunder Aviation, collided with a fence during an aborted landing at the Spirit of St. Louis Airport, Chesterfield, Missouri. The private pilot and two passengers were not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions. The flight originated from Columbia, Missouri, at 1715 cdt. The pilot stated he was making a landing on runway 08L with a crosswind which varied from 170 to 210 degrees, at 10 to 15 knots. The pilot stated the airplane bounced on touchdown and he recovered by bringing the airplane back to the runway on all three landing gear. He stated the airspeed was high and the it "quickly veered" off the left side of the runway into the grass. He elected to abort the landing and during the initial climb, the airplane contacted the metal supports for a temporary fence which was located about 20 to 30 yards from the runway. Substantial damage resulted to the horizontal stabilizer. The pilot continued the takeoff and returned to land without incident. The pilot stated he was landing on runway 08L with a crosswind which varied from 170 to 210 degrees, at 10 to 15 knots. The airplane bounced on touchdown and he recovered by bringing the airplane back to the runway on all three landing gear. He stated the airspeed was high and the it 'quickly veered' off the left side of the runway into the grass. He aborted the landing and during the initial climb, the airplane contacted the metal supports for a temporary fence which was located about 20 to 30 yards from the runway. Substantial damage resulted to the horizontal stabilizer. The pilot continued the takeoff and returned to land without incident. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12