Event SEA94LA049

Factual narrative

On January 15, 1994, approximately 1425 hours Pacific standard time (PST), a Grumman American Aviation, Inc., AA1B, N1416R, registered to Messrs. Flahaut, McCabe and Horner, operated by Gower Flying Service, and being flown by John E. Klenke, a certificated commercially rated flight instructor, was destroyed when it collided with a pole at the upwind end of the runway during rollout at Gower Field, Lacey, Washington. The instructor and accompanying student pilot both received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The flight, which was an early stage instructional flight, was to have been operated in accordance with the requirements set forth in 14CFR91 and originated from the Olympia Airport, Olympia, Washington, at approximately 1343 hours. The instructor pilot reported that he was allowing the student to perform a practice power out emergency landing. Once set up for the 1800 foot long runway 06 at the grass airstrip the instructor took over to complete the approach. He reported that the aircraft touched down "1/3 to 1/2 way down the runway." An FAA inspector on site reported that the grass was wet as was the underlying clay surface. Surface weather observations of winds at selected sites near the accident site follow: TIME: STATION: RANGE*: DISTANCE: WINDS: 1455PST TCM 065 DEG 14NM 210 DEG @ 13KTS 1445PST TIW 030 DEG 14NM 180 DEG @ 12KTS 1455PST PWT 345 DEG 23NM 210 DEG @ 09KTS 1453PST OLM 180 DEG 09NM 200 DEG @ 11KTS *nautical miles (NM) from the accident site THE PILOT IN COMMAND EXECUTED A LANDING TO RUNWAY 6, AT THE 1800 FOOT GRASS STRIP. WINDS AT WEATHER FACILITIES NEAR THE ACCIDENT SITE WERE REPORTED AS SOUTH TO SOUTHWESTERLY AT 9-13 KNOTS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT REPORTED TOUCHING DOWN 1/3 TO 1/2 DOWN THE RUNWAY AND WAS UNABLE TO STOP BEFORE COLLIDING WITH A TELEPHONE POLE AT THE RUNWAY'S END. THE GRASS RUNWAY WAS REPORTED TO BE WET DURING THE LANDING ATTEMPT. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12