NTSB Factual Report

The pilot of the commuter airplane reported that she was going to establish an approach and landing to runway 05 at an airport with a single runway and no taxiways. While on a seven-mile final, she communicated with the pilot of an airplane that was on short final for the same airport. The pilot that was on short final reported that he would report when he was clear of the runway, and he did. The commuter pilot acknowledged the other pilot's clear of runway transmission, and initiated the approach.

As the pilot descended through 150 feet above ground level, she noticed that the airplane that she had communicated with was not clear of the runway. The airplane on the ground was near the runway 23 numbers with the propeller turning, facing toward her landing airplane. She aborted the landing but the airplane did not climb. The airplane impacted the runway hard and bounced. She reported that when the airplane touched down after the bounce, she "applied left rudder pedal to steer the aircraft off the runway and out of the way of the other aircraft's possible flight path." The airplane exited the left side of the runway and ground-looped to the left. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right side of the fuselage and the right wing.

After the ground-loop, the pilot of the airplane near the runway 23 numbers attempted to takeoff. He was contacted via radio transmission by the airport manager and vehemently told that the runway was closed until further notice.

Examination of the accident airplane by Federal Aviation Administration, Aviation Safety Inspectors, determined that there were no preimpact mechanical anomalies that would have prevented normal flight operation.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot’s loss of directional control during the aborted landing, which she conducted due to another airplane, whose pilot had reported being clear of the runway, still being on the runway, and resulted in a hard landing and ground loop.