On April 17, 2001, an Aviat A-1B (registration N440PS) was involved in an aviation accident near Hagerman, ID. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain proper runway alignment during an attempted go-around, resulting in an inflight collision with a wind sock. Factors were a short runway/landing area condition, the pilot's excessive airspeed on final approach, and the wind sock. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During a go-around on final approach to a private airstrip, the pilot drifted left, struck a windsock with the left wing tip, then the airplane spun and struck the ground, digging the right wing tip into the dirt.
Accident Sequence
According to the pilot, the final approach to his private airstrip was to the east. Upon touchdown, the pilot felt that the airplane was a little too fast and executed a go-around. During rotation, the pilot began drifting left and struck a small windsock located at the east end of the airstrip with the airplane's left wing tip. The airplane then spun left and struck the ground "flat," digging its right wing tip into the dirt.
Pilot Report
The pilot stated that no mechanical malfunction or failure was involved in the accident. He reported that winds were calm at the time. The pilot also indicated that his airstrip was 1,000 feet in length. No other details about the aircraft, injuries, or damage were provided in the report.