What happened
The incident occurred at a small, privately owned airport in Waring, Texas. The subject of the report was a newly certificated private pilot who was operating an aircraft during the landing phase. The pilot attempted to land on Runway 17 under light wind conditions, with the wind blowing from 160 degrees at eight knots.
During the final approach and touchdown, the aircraft drifted to the left, departing the paved surface of the runway. As the aircraft moved off the runway, it collided with a wire fence that was situated just 18 feet from the left edge of the landing strip. The impact with the fence resulted in damage to the aircraft.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the circumstances surrounding the departure from the runway and the subsequent collision. Investigators noted the proximity of the wire fence to the active runway, which served as a significant hazard for any aircraft drifting off the paved surface. The short distance of 18 feet provided little margin for error or recovery.
The weather conditions were relatively calm, with a light wind from the south-southeast at eight knots. This suggests that crosswind components were not a primary factor in the drift, pointing instead to pilot control issues during the critical landing phase.
Findings
The primary finding was the loss of directional control by the private pilot during the landing maneuver. The aircraft's departure from Runway 17 was attributed to the pilot allowing the aircraft to drift leftward beyond the runway edge. The presence of the fence directly in the path of the drifting aircraft led to the collision and subsequent damage.
The location of the fence, being only 18 feet from the runway edge, highlights a potential infrastructure hazard at small private airports where clear zones may be limited. However, the root cause remains the pilot's inability to maintain alignment with the runway centerline during landing.