What happened
On August 31, 2012, a Cessna 150M, registration N45080, was completing a flight from Portage Airport (C47) to Blackhawk Airfield (87Y) in Cottage Grove, Wisconsin. The flight, conducted under Part 91 regulations, was uneventful until the landing phase.
Upon arrival, the pilot reviewed the ATIS, which indicated winds from 340 degrees at 6 knots. Choosing between runway 27 and runway 04, the pilot opted for runway 04 because he had not used that runway in a long time. Following a normal approach, the pilot landed slightly left of the runway centerline. As the aircraft decelerated to taxi speed, the left wing struck high, overgrown vegetation and brush overhanging the left side of the runway. This contact caused the airplane to veer left off the runway and into brush and small trees, resulting in substantial damage to the leading edges of both wings. The pilot, who was the not injured sole occupant, was able to exit the aircraft safely.
The investigation
An FAA inspector examined the accident site and identified high vegetation, reaching heights of up to 12 feet, overhanging the west side of the runway by 2 to 4 feet. Vegetation was also found overhanging the east side of the runway by 1 to 3 feet. While the published width of runway 04 is 57 feet, the inspector determined that the usable landing area had been narrowed by approximately 7 feet due to the overgrown vegetation.
Findings
- The pilot's decision to land on a runway with significant vegetation along the edges.
- The aircraft's landing position, which was left of the runway centerline.