On June 27, 2003, a Cessna 170A (registration N9067A) was involved in an aviation accident near Newcomerstown, OH. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to obtain the proper touchdown point and delayed go-around. Factors in this accident were the up sloping runway. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During a landing on a 1,200-foot turf runway, the airplane bounced, prompting a go-around. While climbing, the pilot saw hay bales beyond the runway and tried to avoid them, but the horizontal stabilizer struck one, causing a nose-first impact.
Accident Description
The pilot was landing to the north on a turf runway measuring 1,200 feet in length and 30 feet in width. The runway featured a 300-foot-long flat touchdown area followed by an incline of about 30 percent.
Sequence of Events
The airplane touched down halfway down the runway and bounced. The pilot initiated a go-around. As the airplane climbed, the pilot observed two hay bales located approximately 30 feet beyond the end of the runway. The pilot attempted to avoid the hay bales by making a quick right turn. However, the left side of the horizontal stabilizer struck the top of one of the bales. Subsequently, the airplane pitched down and struck the ground nose first.
Contributing Circumstances
The pilot did not overfly the field prior to the landing attempt and was not aware of the hay bales until the airplane reached the crest of the runway.