| Crash location | 47.152222°N, 122.093889°W |
| Nearest city | South Prairie, WA
47.139268°N, 122.098169°W 0.9 miles away |
| Tail number | N321D |
|---|---|
| Accident date | 11 May 2002 |
| Aircraft type | Grumman American AA-1B |
| Additional details: | None |
On May 11, 2002, about 1100 Pacific daylight time, a Grumman American AA-1B airplane, N321D, sustained substantial damage during the landing rollout at a private airstrip (02WA) near South Prairie, Washington. The airplane is registered to the pilot, and was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under the provisions of Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The sole occupant of the airplane, a non-certificated pilot, was not injured. There was no fire and no report of ELT activation.
During a telephone interview and subsequent written statement, the pilot reported that after touchdown he "...locked up the right wheel brake..." in an effort to avoid a fence and vehicles that were located at the end of the runway. Shortly thereafter, the airplane slid to the right and collided with the fence. The pilot stated that at the time of the accident the landing surface was wet.
A witness to the accident reported that the airplane "...appeared to be landing long..." and touched down approximately two-thirds of the way down the 2,650-foot turf runway. After touchdown, during the landing rollout, the airplane collided with a fence that crossed (perpendicular) the departure end of the runway.
The pilot's improper touchdown point. Factors include a wet landing surface.