Brodhead, WI, USA
N2373P
Piper PA-22-150
The airplane contacted a vehicle while on final approach to land. The pilot stated that while on base leg in the traffic pattern, he appeared to be a "bit high" so he reduced the power slightly. The airplane started to "settle quickly" after he turned onto final approach, so he reapplied power and adjusted his flight controls to maintain airspeed. The pilot reported that his focus at this point was the runway and the corn field which was below him. He stated that the portion of the road that he could see and runway both appeared clear. The pilot reported everything appeared "normal" until he approached the edge of the corn field at which time he sensed he was low, so he added power. The pilot continued to report, "The crest of the road at the approach course was obscured by my own aircraft as I saw the terrain rising toward me. Interpreting it as sink despite my power, I did not realize it was actually the elevation rising. ... Seeing the road approach beneath my wheels all I can then recall was my bewilderment when the airplane lurched." The Chevy Blazer was traveling southbound on a road which boarders the east side of the airport. The right main landing gear struck the frame above the left rear passenger window, and the nose gear contacted the left side of the windshield and the driver's door window frame. The airplane traveled about 46 feet after striking the vehicle, coming rest in the grass area approximately 443 feet prior to the approach end of runway 21. Neither the pilot nor the driver of the vehicle saw each other prior to the impact.
On August 20, 2005, at 0840 central daylight time, a Piper PA-22-150, N2373P, collided with a vehicle while landing on runway 21 (1,480 feet by 100 feet, grass) at the Brodhead Airport (C37), Brodhead, Wisconsin. The pilot received minor injuries and the driver of vehicle was not injured. The Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight originated from Brooklyn, Wisconsin, at 0815. The pilot stated that while on base leg in the traffic pattern, he appeared to be a "bit high" so he reduced the power slightly. He stated the airplane started to "settle quickly" after he turned onto final approach, so he reapplied power and adjusted his flight controls to maintain airspeed. The pilot reported that his focus at this point was the runway and the corn field which was below him. He stated that the portion of the road that he could see and runway both appeared clear. The pilot reported everything appeared "normal" until he approached the edge of the corn field at which time he sensed he was low, so he added power. The pilot continued to report, "The crest of the road at the approach course was obscured by my own aircraft as I saw the terrain rising toward me. Interpreting it as sink despite my power, I did not realize it was actually the elevation rising. ... Seeing the road approach beneath my wheels all I can then recall was my bewilderment when the airplane lurched." According to the Green County Sheriff's Office the Chevy Blazer was traveling southbound on Brodhead Airport Road. This road boarders the east side of the airport. The airplane contacted the drivers side of the Blazer. The sheriff's office reported that appears as if the right main landing gear struck the frame above the left rear passenger window, and the nose gear contacted the left side of the windshield and the driver's door window frame. The airplane traveled about 46 feet after striking the vehicle, coming rest in the grass area approximately 443 feet prior to the approach end of runway 21. Neither the pilot nor the driver of the vehicle saw each other prior to the impact.
The pilot's misjudged distance/altitude which resulted in an undershoot. A related factor was the vehicle the airplane contacted.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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