SEA00LA081

The pilot reported that his first attempt to land was aborted because he thought that he was too high. During the second attempt, while on final approach, the airplane began to sink after passing over an open field. The pilot stated that he would have used power to correct, however, he thought that he already had enough airspeed and just pulled the nose up, hoping to get a few feet of altitude and reduced airspeed. The aircraft touched down short of the runway and collided with a dirt bank.

On April 30, 2000, about 1215 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, N4413X, registered to and operated by the pilot as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, landed short of the runway at Stark's Twin Oaks Airpark, Hillsboro, Oregon, and collided with a dirt bank. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The flight originated from Tillamook, Oregon, about 45 minutes prior to the accident.

In a written statement, the pilot reported that he aborted the first landing because he thought that he was too high. While on the downwind leg for the second approach, the pilot realized that he was misreading the altimeter, and that his altitude was actually 500 to 600 feet MSL, when he should have been at 1,100 feet MSL (pattern altitude). The pilot applied full power to climb back up to pattern altitude, reaching 1,100 feet at the point where he turned to the base leg. The pilot reported that at any other airport he would have gone around again, however, he felt that the Twin Oaks environment discouraged go-arounds, and opted to continue the approach. The pilot stated that while on final approach, the airplane crossed the river and an open field and began to sink. The pilot reported that he would have used power to correct, however, he thought that he already had enough airspeed (70 mph), and "just pulled the nose up hoping to get a few feet altitude and reduce my airspeed. The airplane was ready to land though and I struck the bank in front of the runway..." The aircraft touched down short of the runway and collided with the dirt bank. The nose gear was pushed aft, damaging the underside of the engine and firewall.