SEA94LA091

At the conclusion of a cross country flight, in a newly purchased airplane, the pilot stated that while on final approach, just before touch down, the airplane dropped in altitude. He does not recall any further events. Witnesses reported that the airplane stalled at 40 feet AGL and 50 yards short of the runway. The airplane collided with the terrain in a 40 degree nose down attitude, bounced and broke into three pieces.

On March 26, 1994, at 1515 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 150, N5537E, collided with the terrain 150 feet short of the Woodland State Airport, Woodland, Washington. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the private pilot was seriously injured. The flight had departed from Salem, Oregon, on March 26, 1994, at 1400, as a pleasure flight.

It was reported that the pilot had just purchased the airplane from the previous owner on the day of the accident. The previous owner stated that the pilot picked the airplane up and departed from his private airstrip at his residence in Salem. This person stated that the pilot did not fly the airplane prior to the purchase, and that he only briefed the pilot on the airplane's systems.

In a written statement, the pilot reported that he flew over the airport twice to look it over as it was his first time landing at this airstrip. The approach was made from the south and the pilot stated that "almost to touch down when I felt plane dropped under me." The pilot stated that the airspeed was at 65 mph indicated. The pilot then reduced the throttle and switched off the master switch. He does not recall any further events.

Witnesses travelling on Interstate 5, that runs next to the airport, stated that the airplane was on final approach when first viewed. One witness, also a pilot, stated that the airplane was struggling to maintain altitude on approach and he noticed the the flaps were retracted. When the airplane was at 40 feet above ground level and approximately 50 yards short of the runway, the airplane stalled. The witness stated that the airplane collided with the terrain in a 40 degree nose down attitude, bounced and broke into three pieces. The witness was the first person at the accident site and stated that he turned off the master switch and positioned the fuel selector from the left position to the off position. The throttle was in the idle position and the mixture was full rich. The flap handle was in the retracted position.

Federal Aviation Administration medical records indicate that the pilot's last medical certificate was dated April 23, 1981. The pilot reported a bienniel flight review in a Cessna 172 in September, 1993, however, the pilot could not provide verification of a sign-off.