NTSB Factual Report

On September 27, 2004, at 1545 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 152, N757RD, sustained substantial damage when it impacted trees during an aborted landing at a private airstrip on Crane Island, located about 4 nautical miles north of Friday Harbor, Washington. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 business flight. The flight departed from Burlington, Washington and the intended destination was Crane Island.

According to the pilot, the winds were calm, and he decided to land to the southeast on the 1,500-foot-long grass airstrip. He reported that he touched down approximately mid-field and "applied brakes lightly." About three-quarters of the way down the runway, he "decided to abort the landing due to high ground speed." He lifted off just prior to the end of the runway. However, "the climb was insufficient" to clear trees ahead so he turned left towards an open field. The airplane impacted trees on the edge of the field and came to rest nose down suspended in the trees. The pilot reported that the accident could have been prevented by "slower approach speed and earlier touch down."

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's delay in executing an aborted landing and his failure to obtain altitude/clearance from trees during the aborted landing. A factor was the pilot's failure to obtain the proper touchdown point as a result of his high airspeed on approach.