Accident Details
On January 27, 2012, about 1210 Pacific Standard Time, a Piper PA-28-140, registration N15791, impacted an object protruding from the terrain when the pilot landed short of the runway at Chehalis Airport, Chehalis, Washington. The commercial pilot, who was acting as pilot-in-command and owned the aircraft, was undergoing a flight review with a certified flight instructor. Neither occupant was injured, but the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight review, which had departed from the same airport about 75 minutes earlier, was conducted under visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was filed.
According to the pilot, he was executing a simulated power-off landing as part of the flight review. He failed to manage his glide profile to reach the approach end of the runway and elected not to add engine power. The airplane touched down in a grassy area a little over 300 feet short of the runway threshold, then continued the landing roll across the threshold onto the paved runway surface.
Investigation Findings
After returning to his home base, the pilot noticed a dent protruding upward from the top skin of the stabilator. Inspection of the underside revealed a punctured/torn area requiring replacement of stressed skin over more than six inches across. Airport personnel later examined the area off the approach end of the runway and found a bent piece of rebar protruding about one and a half feet above the ground, located just over 300 feet from the runway threshold. Tire tracks indicated the main landing gear had contacted the ground about 10 feet past the rebar, while the wings cleared it. The rebar, painted white at the top, had been placed to mark a future approach lighting system component.
According to an FAA inspector who visited the scene, the rebar was about 100 feet beyond the boundary of the Runway Safety Area at the non-controlled airport. The inspector reported that the flight instructor stated he did not suggest adding power because the grassy area appeared clear and he thought the pilot would learn a lesson by landing short.
Probable Cause
The pilot's failure to manage the glide profile and his decision not to add engine power, resulting in a landing short of the runway and impact with an object.