History of Flight
On August 24, 2010, at approximately 1610 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-28-180 (N5101L) and a Cessna 150J (N50464) collided at Diamond Point Airstrip in Sequim, Washington. The Piper was owned and operated by its private pilot, who had departed Olympia, Washington, about 1530. The Cessna, owned by a student pilot, was being operated by a commercial pilot providing flight instruction.
The Piper pilot was attempting to land on runway 29. He reported that he had not previously landed at the uncontrolled airstrip. Upon approach, there were two other airplanes in the traffic pattern, and a Cessna reported taxiing for takeoff. When a third airplane entered the pattern ahead of him, the Piper pilot altered his approach, maintaining altitude and extending his pattern until he had adequate clearance from the landing airplane ahead. He then reduced engine power and added full flaps to descend to the proper approach path.
The Piper pilot stated he did not encounter downdrafts. On final approach, he initially reduced engine speed to 1,700 rpm, and the airplane descended. On short final, he felt he was low and slow and added full engine power to arrest the descent. The pilot opined that the engine rpm did not increase before the airplane struck the upsloping terrain short of the runway pavement.
The certified flight instructor (CFI) in the Cessna observed the Piper on long final approach. The Cessna was on the taxiway run-up apron, clear of the runway. The CFI noted the Piper was very low on short final, heading 10 to 15 degrees left of the runway centerline extension. He commented to his student that the Piper would crash; seconds later it did. The Piper impacted the ground short of the runway and then veered into the Cessna. The CFI later spoke with the Piper pilot, who said he was distracted by other airplanes, increased engine power because he was low and slow, and pulled back on the yoke, but the rate of descent was not adequately reduced.
Airport Information
Runway 29 had a displaced threshold about 200 feet from the beginning of the pavement. The runway length from threshold to end was approximately 2,135 feet, with a width of about 24 feet.
Examination
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplanes and accident site. Ground scars indicated the Piper touched down on an upsloping dirt embankment about 17 feet before the runway asphalt, 217 feet short of the displaced threshold. A scar consistent with the Piper's right main landing gear wheel was located about 9 feet left of the runway centerline.
Tire rub marks on the tarmac, consistent with sideways skid-like movement of the Cessna's nose wheel, were found in the run-up area, indicating the Cessna was clear of the active runway when its right wing was impacted.
Both airplanes sustained substantial damage. The Piper pilot sustained minor injuries; the two pilots in the Cessna were uninjured.
Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plans were filed.