9 Jul 2012: BELLANCA 7KCAB — KEMPNER JAMES C

9 Jul 2012: BELLANCA 7KCAB — KEMPNER JAMES C

No fatalities • Williston, ND, United States

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to ensure a suitable landing surface.

— NTSB Determination

Accident narrative

In a statement provided by the pilot, he was performing a landing in a wheat field. The pilot approached the field from the west and flew a midfield downwind at 3,000 feet mean sea level (MSL) over the intended landing strip. When the pilot began to flare the airplane, the main landing gear became entangled with the tall wheat grass, which resulted in the airplane lurching forward and to the right. The right wing impacted the ground and the airplane nosed over. The airplane came to rest inverted and pointed in the opposite direction of flight. Nine days prior to the accident, the pilot had marked a 1,000 foot landing strip in the field. He stated that the wheat grass had grown considerably since then.

Contributing factors

  • cause Pilot
  • cause Decision related to condition

Conditions

Weather
VMC, wind 240/05kt, vis 10sm

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