# NTSB ERA22LA433: Easter William C M-1, Okeechobee, FL, July 16, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Date: July 16, 2022, 12:10 UTC, 08:10 local
- Place: Okeechobee, FL · on Airport
- Coordinates: 27.266574, -80.850391
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 106071
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA433
- NTSB report (PDF): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106071/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106071
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA433

## Probable cause

The premature placement of an airport runway closure marker short of the runway, which resulted in the airplane’s collision with the marker during the landing approach. Contributing was the pilot’s inability to see the marker due the nose-high attitude of the airplane during the approach.

## Findings

- Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Incorrect action performance-Other (probable cause)
- Environmental issues-Operating environment-Airport facilities/design-Runway markings/signage-Decision related to condition (probable cause)
- Environmental issues-Operating environment-Airport facilities/design-Runway markings/signage-Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause)
- Personnel issues-Psychological-Perception/orientation/illusion-Perception-Pilot (probable cause)

## Analysis

The pilot landed on a runway that was scheduled to be closed about 9 minutes after he arrived. A NOTAM had been issued about the closure. The pilot was aware of the NOTAM and confirmed the runway was still open by communicating over the airport’s common traffic advisory frequency before he landed. The pilot said that when he was on short final approach to the runway, the airplane struck the top cross-arms of an unlit airport runway closure marker. The pilot was subsequently able to land safely. The pilot said he was unable to see the marker as he approached the runway due to the nose-high flight attitude of his airplane on approach. The impact with the marker resulted in substantial damage to the airplane’s wing spar. A representative of the engineering company contracted by the airport acknowledged to the Federal Aviation Administration that their employees had moved the marker in front of the runway’s threshold prior to it being closed because they thought they had permission to do so by the airport; however, the person or entity who had granted that permission was never determined.

## Sequence of events

- Approach-IFR final approach: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)  (defining event)

## Aircraft

- Registration: N150MM, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N150MM) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: EASTER WILLIAM C M-1
- Registry model: Easter William C M-1 (registry code 1690512, https://openairdocs.org/model/easter-william-c-m-1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: M-1-1115
- Year built: 1984
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: OBE, Okeechobee Couty AIrport, runway 05
- FAA reports: 20220716012439A (https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220716012439A) (OpenAirDocs)

## Flight crew

- Pilot; age 70; private; medical basicmed; hours: 540 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 40° at 3 knots
- Visibility (statute miles): 10
- Temperature (°F): 77
- METAR: METAR KOBE 161200Z AUTO 04003KT 10 SM CLR 25/25 A3004 RMK AO2

## Docket (3 files)

On NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106071

- WRITTEN STATEMENT - PILOT (PDF, 1 pages, 164 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14924162&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=midget%20mustang%20Incident%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- NTSB SUMMARY OF EMAIL - FAA (PDF, 1 pages, 160 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14930706&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Summary%20of%20Email-Rel.pdf
- PHOTOS (PDF, 2 pages, 268 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14924136&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photos-Rel.pdf

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

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From OpenAirDocs.org, an independent open copy of NTSB and FAA data. The NTSB's own report is the official record of an investigation.