CHI96LA289

During a landing, the airplane touched down approximately 110 feet short of the approach end of runway 09. Terrain in the touchdown area was approximately 7 feet below that of the runway. The airplane continued onto the runway where it nosed over. The pilot had not landed on the airstrip for over two years. The airstrip owner had cleared a wooded area near the approach end of the runway. The pilot stated he knew the owner was doing this, and he thought the owner had also extended the runway length. The end of the runway was marked with white cloth tied around stakes.

On August 10, 1996, at 1139 eastern standard time, a Mrotek Minicab GY-20, N263AM, operated by a commercial rated pilot collided with the terrain while landing to the east at the B & V Flying Ranch Airport, Albion, Indiana. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The airplane was substantially damaged and the pilot sustained serious injuries. The flight originated from Byran, Ohio, at approximately 1100 est.

The pilot stated he had not flown into this airstrip for at least two years prior to the accident. He stated he knew the airstrip owner was planning on clearing some of the wooded area at the west end of the airstrip. The pilot stated he circled the airstrip at and altitude of 1,500 feet and that he "saw hill was still there." He stated it appeared to him that not only had some of the wooded area been cleared, but that the airstrip had been lengthened. The pilot reported he intended to "touchdown before top of hill to look at runway & grass." The airplane touched down approximately 110 feet prior to the beginning of the runway which was marked by two stakes which had white cloth tied to them.

The airplane touched down in a "gully" type area. The elevation of this area was described as being approximately 7 feet lower than the runway. The airplane traveled up onto the runway where it nosed over and came to rest inverted on a westerly heading.