Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Birkenfeld, Oregon 97016
Saturday, July 29, 2000 14:00 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot arrived at his destination in the Piper PA-32-300 and found that the landing strip had not been mowed. He then diverted to a nearby 1,650 foot long grass field and set up for an uphill landing to the east. During the final approach and landing he 'allowed the plane to float using too much ground roll for roll out' and aborted the landing. During the initial climbout the aircraft's right main landing gear and left outboard wing underside impacted several fence posts. The right main landing gear wheel and strut separated from the aircraft and impacted the leading edge of the right horizontal stabilator. The pilot was able to continue the climbout, after which he successfully landed the aircraft.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's delayed go-around, which resulted in the aircraft not clearing the fence posts. A contributing factor was the fence posts.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/29/2000
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1400
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City BIRKENFELD
Event State OREGON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 97016
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Unknown
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1356 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 280
Weather Observation Facility ID AST
Elevation of weather observation facility 11
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 29
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 240
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 896
NTSB Notification Source FAA SEA ROC
NTSB Notification Date Aug 18 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 800
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record May 25 2001 4:45AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N934PH
NTSB Number SEA00LA162
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-32-300
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-32-300
Aircraft Serial Number 32-7540059
Certified Max Gross Weight 3200
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 30 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 15
Airframe Hours 5164
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DEIBLER, JOHN
Aircraft Owner Street Address 75111 NORTH GROSSCUP ROAD
Aircraft Owner City WEST RICHLAND
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99353
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name KENNEWICK AIRCRAFT SVCS, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 6951 GRANDRIDGE BLVD
Operator City KENNEWICK
Operator State WA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 99336
Operator Code K3WA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code S98
Departure City KENNEWICK
Departure State WA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1300
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record May 25 2001 4:10AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 1650
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --