CAMAS, WA, USA
N704XA
Cessna 150M
The pilot reported that while on a long final approach with sun glare in his eyes, he mistook the runway number for the displaced threshold. On short final, the pilot realized that he was low and slow, and the addition of power near the end of the runway was insufficient to maintain flight. During the go-around maneuver, the tail section of the aircraft contacted the airport boundary fence. The aircraft pitched down and subsequently collided with the ground in a nose-down attitude. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical failure or malfunction with the aircraft at the time of the accident. The Airport/Facility Directory indicates that the threshold is displaced 413 feet.
On September 22, 1999, about 1630 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 150M, N704XA, registered to and operated by Aero Maintenance as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, collided with a fence and subsequently the ground during a go-around at Grove Field, Camas, Washington. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft was substantially damaged and the private pilot and his passenger were not injured. The flight originated from Camas about one hour prior to the accident. During an interview and subsequent written statement, the pilot reported that due to other traffic in the pattern, he extended the downwind leg. The pilot stated that while on long final for runway 25, he was aiming for the displaced threshold for landing. The pilot then looked over at his passenger to insure that his seatbelt was on. When the pilot resumed his forward scan into the low sun glare, he did not realize that he mistook the runway number for the displaced threshold. The pilot reported that while on short final, he "Was thus low and slow, and the addition of power near the end of the runway was insufficient to maintain flight." During the go-around maneuver, the tail section of the aircraft contacted the airport boundary fence. The aircraft pitched down and subsequently collided with the ground in a nose-down attitude, collapsing the nose gear. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical failure or malfunction with the aircraft at the time of the accident. The Airport/Facility Directory indicates that for runway 25, the threshold is displaced 413 feet.
A misjudged approach and inadequate airspeed. Sunglare, a delayed decision to go-around, and not maintaining clearance from a fence were factors.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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