On August 14, 2000, an Aeronca 15AC (registration N1282H) was involved in an aviation accident near Pettigrew, AR. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the pilot's failure to maintain obstacle clearance during landing. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot struck and killed a cow with the main landing gear while landing on a private airstrip. The airplane came to rest inverted about 30 feet beyond the cow.
Incident Details
A pilot was landing on a private airstrip when the main landing gear of the airplane struck a cow. The cow was on the airstrip, and the pilot had made several passes to clear the animals. The airstrip is oriented east/west.
Sequence of Events
The cows initially on the airstrip moved to the west end. The pilot then initiated a normal approach to the east. As the airplane flew over the cows, the pilot believed the cows had been cleared. However, one cow had moved, and the main landing gear struck and killed it.
Aftermath
Following the strike, the airplane came to rest inverted approximately 30 feet beyond the cow. The incident occurred on the pilot's private airstrip.