NTSB Factual Report

On August 17, 2004, at 1800 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 180J, N52096, registered to and operated by the pilot as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, collided with a post during the aborted landing from Pittsburg Airport, Pittsburg, Oregon. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft was substantially damaged and the airline transport pilot and his passenger were not injured. The flight originated from Cottonwood, Idaho, about one hour prior to the accident.

In a written statement, the pilot reported that he first over flew runway 12, which is 1,050 feet in length, and determined that the windsock was indicating calm wind. The approach for landing was made at 65 mph with full flaps extended. The aircraft touched down about 50 to 100 feet from the threshold. The pilot reported that "... it didn't look good for stopping so I initiated a go-around. Rotation was a split second too late and the aircraft contacted some brush at the very end of the strip." The pilot reported that there was something hard in the brush which struck the outboard leading edge of the right side horizontal stabilizer. The pilot continued the flight back to Cottonwood, stating that, "a lot of right rudder was required to center the ball and the elevator trim was inoperative." The aircraft landed without further incident at Cottonwood.

Inspection of the right side horizontal stabilizer found a circular indentation to the outboard leading edge. Skin wrinkles were noted on the top and bottom surfaces.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from an object (pole) during an aborted landing. The pilot's delayed decision to abort the landing and a pole were factors.