# NTSB CHI94LA344: Prest Eagle II, N257SP, Wellsville, KS, September 18, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 18, 1994, 13:15 local (18:15 UTC)
- Place: Wellsville, KS
- Coordinates: 38.710262, -95.080482 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7103&lon=-95.0805&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 24, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 9696
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI94LA344
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9696/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI94LA344

## Probable cause

the pilot-in-command's inadequate visual lookout.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - runway light
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED THAT HE LANDED ON THE GRASS RUNWAY AND WAS FOLLOWING THE MOWED AREA WHEN THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR FARING IMPACTED A RECESSED RUNWAY LIGHT.  THE AIRPLANE THEN TURNED AND THE LEFT UPPER WING STRUCK A TREE.

## Factual narrative

On September 18, 1994, at 1315 central daylight time, a Prest Eagle II, N257SP, registered to A. Stark Wolkoff of Prairie Village, Kansas, and operated by a commercial pilot, collided with a tree during rollout to the north on a private grass strip near Wellsville, Kansas.  The airplane sustained substantial damage; however, the pilot reported no injuries.  The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions.  No flight plan was on file.  The flight departed Olathe, Kansas, about 1300.

The pilot stated that while he was on a local flight out of Olathe, Kansas, he decided to make a full stop landing at the Pollack Airport which had a single grass north/south runway.  He stated that the wind was calm, and he decided to land to the north.  He said that he was watching out the left side of the airplane after landing and following the mowed area of the grass, when the left main wheel faring impacted a recessed light at the edge of the runway.  The airplane exited the runway at this point and the left wing impacted a small tree.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N257SP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N257SP-2009-11-30), registration cancelled 2009-11-30, S/N 2052, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PREST EAGLE II
- Registry model: [Prest Robert W PREST-EAGLE II](https://openairdocs.org/model/prest-robert-w-prest-eagle-ii) (registry code 05658BL) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 2052
- Airframe hours: 423
- Engines: LYCOMING AEIO-360-A1D 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Wolkoff, A Stark
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, December 12, 1993, 35 hours before
- Departed: IXD, OLATHE, KS
- Airport: NONE, Pollack Airport, runway 36, 2,600 × 100 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 73; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: rear; flight hours: 6,300 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: IXD, 30 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19940918037999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940918037999A), Sep 18, 1994: Amtral EAGLE2, Wellsville, KS, Substantial damage. Failed to watch alignment landing on grass strip. Wheel hit recessed runway light. Swerved off runway into a tree.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.
