Summary
On September 5, 2015, about 1200 eastern daylight time, a Grumman American AA-5 airplane, registration N67296, impacted a corn crop during the landing rollout on Runway 1 at Spring Lake Airport (IN43) in Pekin, Indiana. The pilot and pilot-rated passenger were not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight in day visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan.
Accident Details
The airplane was based at Sumner County Regional Airport (M33) in Gallatin, Tennessee, and had arrived at Spring Lake Airport, which was the intended destination. The pilot informed FAA inspectors that the purpose of the flight was to view an ultralight aircraft for sale. The individual meeting the pilots reportedly stated that the runway was 40 feet wide by 2,000 feet long. Upon arrival, the pilot overflew the runway northbound at 1,500 feet above ground level and noted that the runway appeared to have been mowed. He then established a long final approach and crossed the threshold at 70 mph. During landing, he observed corn from the adjacent field protruding into the runway area but elected to continue rather than attempt a go-around. The left wing struck the protruding corn, causing the left main wheel to drop off the grass runway and pull the airplane into the corn crop. The pilot reported no preimpact failures or malfunctions.
The pilot-rated passenger reported that a section of corn extended about 6 feet into the left side of the runway. Otherwise, the runway was "perfect" and appeared recently mowed. He noted that the pilot conducted a high pass before landing to assess the condition but did not observe the corn. The left wing impacted the corn during the landing rollout while the airplane was traveling about 45 mph.
Runway Condition
A postaccident examination by FAA inspectors determined that the basic landing area was approximately 40 feet wide by 1,200 feet long. However, about 375 feet from the approach/landing threshold, corn from the adjacent field had been planted into the landing area, reducing the available runway width to approximately 32 feet 6 inches. Damage to the corn in that area was consistent with contact from the accident airplane. The airplane's wingspan was 31 feet 5 inches.
Aftermath
Spring Lake Airport is a private-use facility requiring prior permission to land. No further details were provided regarding the aircraft's removal or repair. The NTSB did not assign a probable cause in the published factual report.