ATL00LA007

The airplane came in low during final approach to landing. The left main landing gear impacted hay bundles and separated from the airplane. The airplane landed on the runway and during rollout, skidded for approximately 200 to 300 ft. The left wing contacted the ground and the airplane veered to the left into the grass, then collided with a ditch.

On October 23, 1999, at 2000 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150F, N8865G, collided with a bale of hay while landing at Antonio/Nery/Juarbe Pol Airport, Arecibo, Puerto Rico. The airplane was operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local pleasure flight. The private pilot received minor injuries and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight originated from San Juan, Puerto Rico, at 1930.

According to the pilot, while on a base leg during his first attempted approach to land on runway 26, he noticed that he was too high and performed a go-around. Prior to touching down on the runway during the second attempt to land, his approach was low. At approximately 100 feet above ground level (agl), he noticed he was close to a gathering of hay bundles. He unsuccessfully attempted to manuever away from them; however, the left main landing gear impacted the bundles of hay and was subsequently separated from the airplane. He continued flying the airplane and landed on the runway. During rollout, the airplane skidded for approximately 200 to 300 feet. The left wing contacted the ground, and the airplane veered to the left into the grass, then collided with a ditch. The pilot did not report any mechanical problems with the aircraft.