NTSB Factual Report

On April 29, 2001, about 1405 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172, N106ME, was substantially damaged while landing at the Lincoln Farm Airport (21KY), Hodgenville, Kentucky. The certificated private pilot and passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight that departed Bowman Field (LOU), Louisville Kentucky, about 1327. No flight plan was filed for the flight, which was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

With one passenger and a full load of fuel, the airplane departed Louisville. The pilot over flew the New Hope VOR to practice en route navigation, and then proceeded to Lincoln Farm. Once there, the pilot over flew the runway to identify the wind direction. The windsock was "slightly moving," and the pilot elected to land on runway 03. The pilot entered a left downwind, and selected 10 degrees of flaps. On base, the pilot selected 20 degrees of flaps, and then 30 degrees on final. The pilot slowed the airplane to 65-70 knots in preparation for a soft field landing. Once over the runway the pilot flared the airplane. Because he had been taught to perform a full stall landing when landing on a soft field, he held the airplane off the ground.

While waiting for the airplane to stall and settle onto the runway, it "lurched" to the left. The pilot applied right rudder, but the airplane continued to the left. The pilot thought about aborting the landing, but quickly realized it was not a viable option because of some vegetation and trees boarding the runway. The left wheel contacted the vegetation, and the airplane pulled further left. The left wingtip contacted a tree, and the airplane spun to the left. The airplane continued to impact small trees and vegetation before coming to a stop 60 degrees nose down with the right wing in contact with the ground. The pilot immediately secured the fuel and electrical systems, and exited the airplane along with his passenger.

The pilot reported a total of 57.4 hours of flight experience, all of which was in the accident airplane. In addition, it was the pilot's first attempt at making a soft field landing. He had practiced soft field landings on hard surface runways, but had never actually landed on a soft surface before.

Lincoln Farm Airport was located approximately 2 miles south of Hodgenville, Kentucky, at an elevation of 780 feet, and was comprised of one turf runway that was 1,700 feet long, and 60 feet wide.

About 10 minutes after the accident, Godman Army Airfield (FTK), Fort Knox, Kentucky, which was located 28 miles to the northwest of the accident site, reported wind 100 degrees at 4 knots, visibility 7 miles, sky clear, temperature 72 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 32 degrees Fahrenheit, and an altimeter of 30.37 inches of mercury.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration inspector that examined the airplane, flight control continuity was confirmed from the pilot's station to all of the flight control surfaces. The brakes were tested by applying a rotational force to the left and right main landing gear tires. The corresponding brake was then applied, and in each case, the appropriate tire stopped. In addition, three tire marks were observed leaving the turf runway to the left, and terminated at the airplane. Examination of the marks revealed no signs of "heavy braking."

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain runway alignment during landing. A factor in the accident was the pilot's lack of experience in conducting soft field landings.