CHI96LA337

The pilot landed at a private turf airstrip, which was 1,800 feet long and had a 'gentle ravine' crossing perpendicular in the middle of the strip. During the landing, the pilot was not able to stop the airplane before reaching the ravine, so he added power to 'float' over the ravine. He then completed a successfull landing on the other side of the ravine. Later, he took off on a second flight to fly locally. During the second landing, the pilot again was unable to stop before reaching the ravine. Again, he applied power in an attempt to fly over the ravine. However, this time, he did not get sufficient airspeed to become airborne, and the airplane was damaged as it crossed the ravine.

On August 25, 1996, at 1000 central daylight time (cdt), an Ercoupe 415-C, N94196, owned and piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when it struck a ravine while landing on a private airstrip. The pilot and passenger reported no injuries. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was on file for the local flight. The flight originated from Kurt Farm Airstrip, Wausau, Wisconsin, exact time unknown.

According to the pilots written statement, he was flying into a private airstrip where a North Central Wisconsin Steam and Gas Engine Antique Show was being held on the north side of the airstrip. He described the airstrip as being orientated north to south approximately 1,800 feet long with a gentle ravine which crossed perpendicular at the middle of the airstrip. The first landing was made to the north direction, even with the winds observed to be out of the southwest direction. The reason the pilot chose to land in that direction was because of the Antique show on the north end of the airstrip. Upon landing on the airstrip, the pilot realized that he could not stop in time before the ravine and gave the engine some power to float over the ravine. He landed on the other side and parked his airplane. The pilot took a passenger up flying to see and photograph the show from the air. On the second landing, he decided to land towards the south direction, thinking the headwind will stop the airplane before reaching the ravine. Upon landing the second time, the pilot stated, "...locked the brakes to stop quicker. We kept sliding on the vegetation, not slowing down much, going slightly downhill towards the [ravine]. When we were about 100' from the [ravine][pilot] gave the engine power to float over the [ravine] again, but did not have enough airspeed to get airborne. We entered the [ravine] at about 15 MPH, went down the slope and up the other side. When the nosewheel went up the back slope of the [ravine][pilot] felt the tail of the airplane impact the ground."