NTSB Factual Report

On April 17, 2001, approximately 1100 mountain daylight time, an Aviat A-1B airplane, N440PS, was substantially damaged when it struck a wind sock and crashed during an attempted go-around at a private airstrip about 2 miles north of Hagerman, Idaho. The commercial pilot, who was the airplane's sole occupant, was not injured in the accident. The pilot reported that visual meteorlogical conditions with calm winds prevailed at the time. No flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR 91 personal flight, which departed Friedman Memorial Airport, Hailey, Idaho, about 1030.

The pilot reported that his airstrip was 1,000 feet long, with a grass surface in good condition, and that his final approach was to the east. He stated that upon touchdown, he felt he was a little too fast so he executed a go-around. He stated that upon rotation, he began drifting left and struck a small windsock at the east end of the airstrip with the airplane's left wing tip. The pilot stated that the airplane then spun left and struck the ground "flat" and dug its right wing tip into the dirt. The pilot stated that no mechanical malfunction or failure was involved in the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain proper runway alignment during an attempted go-around, resulting in an inflight collision with a wind sock. Factors were a short runway/landing area condition, the pilot's excessive airspeed on final approach, and the wind sock.