No fatalities

Pilot Hits Fence During Touch-and-Go Practice

Okanogan, WA, United States

On March 17, 2010, a PIPER PA-18-150 operated by LOCKWOOD AVIATION L P was involved in an aviation accident near Okanogan, WA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a fence at the end of the runway. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

During touch-and-go practice, a pilot executed an aborted takeoff from 50 ft AGL, then attempted another takeoff but struck a fence at 3 ft AGL, damaging the left wing and landing gear.

Incident Overview

A pilot practicing touch-and-go landings reported that after one takeoff, he reduced power to simulate an aborted takeoff from approximately 50 feet above ground level (AGL). He lowered the flaps and performed a three-point landing. Subsequently, he added power for another takeoff, but the airplane only climbed to about 3 feet AGL before impacting a 4-foot-high fence at the end of the 3,675-foot-long gravel runway.

Aircraft Damage

The airplane came to rest in an upright position. The left main landing gear was bent backward under the fuselage, and the left wing sustained structural damage. No other damage was noted in the report.

Pilot Actions

The pilot described the sequence of events, including the practice of aborted takeoffs from low altitude and the subsequent landing and takeoff attempt. No further details were provided regarding weather, ATC involvement, or other factors.

Contributing factors

Response/compensationPilot

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 17 Mar 2010 PIPER PA-18-150 accident near Okanogan, WA?

During touch-and-go practice, a pilot executed an aborted takeoff from 50 ft AGL, then attempted another takeoff but struck a fence at 3 ft AGL, damaging the left wing and landing gear.

Were there any fatalities in the 17 Mar 2010 PIPER PA-18-150 accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 17 Mar 2010 involved a PIPER PA-18-150, operated by LOCKWOOD AVIATION L P, at Okanogan, WA.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a fence at the end of the runway.