Wamego Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Wamego, Kansas 66547
Saturday, April 26, 2003 12:05 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane impacted the runway while performing an S-turn maneuver while landing. The pilot reported he was following another airplane on final approach to runway 17 and had to perform S-turns to increase spacing. He noted that runway 17 was narrower than he was accustomed to, and the perceived aircraft altitude was higher than it actually was. The pilot reported there was no mechanical malfunction or failure.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot not maintaining altitude/clearance from the runway while maneuvering on final approach. A factor to the accident was the pilot's misjudgment of his altitude while on final approach.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/26/2003
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1205
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Wamego
Event State KANSAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 66547
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 391150N
Event Location Longitude 0961532W
Event Location Airport Wamego Municipal Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 69K
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 966
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1154 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 260
Weather Observation Facility ID MHK
Elevation of weather observation facility 1056
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 19
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 170
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.91
Density Altitude (feet) 1675
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 14187
NTSB Notification Source FAA-ACE-ROC
NTSB Notification Date Apr 26 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1353
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Nov 25 2003 11:36AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office FAA - Wichita FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7441W
NTSB Number CHI03LA116
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Walker
Aircraft Model Lancair IV
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number LIV076
Certified Max Gross Weight 3200
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 20 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 50
Airframe Hours 90
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Crest Quarry Properties, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. Box 563
Aircraft Owner City Chapman
Aircraft Owner State KS
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 67431
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code CYW
Departure City Clay Center
Departure State KS
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1145
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code 69K
Destination City Wamego
Destination State KS
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Approach - VFR pattern - final approach
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Aug 25 2003 10:58AM
User who most recently changed record SULP
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 17
Runway Length 3184
Runway Width 45
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --