On 14 Jun 2009, a Clarke Colin A Glastar was involved in an aviation accident near Wenatchee, WA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed, resulting in an aerodynamic stall and loss of control. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A pilot attempting to land on a grass strip overshoots to avoid a glider, then experiences a stall during the final turn, resulting in a hard landing that collapses the right main landing gear and damages the forward fuselage.
Overview
A pilot was maneuvering to land on a grass strip adjacent to the main runway. After turning right base, the pilot became aware of a glider reporting its position on left downwind for the same landing area. To allow the glider to land first, the pilot elected to overshoot the final turn.
Sequence of Events
During the subsequent final turn, the pilot allowed the airspeed to decay, causing the airplane to begin stalling. The pilot applied full engine power, but the airplane continued to descend and impacted the ground. The impact collapsed the right main landing gear. The forward fuselage sustained substantial damage during the accident sequence.
Mechanical Examination
Post-accident examination revealed no mechanical anomalies with the engine or airframe.