CHI94LA239

The pilot was landing his airplane at a restricted landing area that was bounded by trees and high vegetation. He said the winds were shifting from the east to west at 14 knots gusting to 19 knots. During the landing flare, the pilot said a gust of wind caught the airplane '... Causing a loss of directional control.' The pilot said he applied full power to compensate for the wind and collided with high vegetation located about ten feet from the runway's left edge.

On July 21, 1994, at 1315 central daylight time, a Cessna 172, N1399F, registered to Richard Larson of Marinette, Wisconsin, and piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when it collided with trees and terrain during landing on runway 18 (2,640' X 100' dry sod) at the Larson Airport, Marinette, Wisconsin. The airport is classified as a restricted landing area. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot and one passenger reported no injuries, a second passenger received minor injuries. The flight departed Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, at 1155 cdt.

According to the pilot's written statement on his NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the airplane was "...about 100 feet [above the ground when a] wind gust caught [the] aircraft causing a loss of directional control." He said he used "...full throttle to correct and depart, [the] aircraft did not respond in forward movement."

During an interview with the pilot it was revealed that he was flying the final approach at 75 knots indicated airspeed. He said he had extended 10 degrees of flaps on the airplane. According to the pilot, the wind turned the airplane sideways during the landing flare. He said he "... firewalled the throttle..." to compensate for the wind. Shortly after applying full power, the airplane collided with high vegetation and the terrain on the left side of the runway. The pilot said the winds were shifting from the east and west at 14 knots gusting to 19 knots. He said that he had been operating in and out of this airport for many years.

The pilot was asked to describe the runway's location relative to obstructions. He said the approach end of runway 18 has 30 to 40 foot high trees about 40 feet from the threshold. The runway's west edge is lined with trees for about the first third of its length. An open space follows the tree line at the midfield position for about 300 feet. The tree line then continues to an area next to the runway's end. The tree line is about 200 feet west of the runway's west edge. High vegetation follows the length of the runway's east edge. The pilot said it is about 10 feet in from the runway's edge.