CHI98LA346

The pilot was performing short field takeoffs and landings. The airplane was on final approach, approximately 25 to 50 feet above the ground, at an airspeed of 50 miles per hour, and in a high angle of attack, when the pilot reduced power to descend for a short field landing. The airplane immediately stalled and impacted on the runway. Examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies.

On August 30, 1998, at 1830 central daylight time (cdt), a Needham Glastar, N37JN, operated by a commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage when during landing the airplane stalled and impacted the runway at Allison Municipal Airport, Allison, Iowa. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. There was no flight plan on file. The pilot reported no injuries. The local flight originated at Allison, Iowa, at 1820 cdt.

In his written statement, the pilot said that he was performing short field takeoffs and landings. The airplane was on final approach, approximately 25 to 50 feet above the ground, at an airspeed of 50 miles per hour, and in a high angle of attack, when the pilot reduced power to descend for a short field landing. The airplane immediately stalled and impacted on the runway.

A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the airplane at the Allison Airport. The tubular frame around the cabin was bent and broken. The left main landing gear was bent upward. The left wing tip was fractured. The left wing aileron control cable pulley was bent upward. The bottom forward fuselage, aft of the engine cowling, showed skin wrinkles. The bottom part of the firewall was buckled. The tips of the two propeller blades were bent aft. Flight control continuity was confirmed. No anomalies were revealed with the engine, engine controls or other airplane systems.