SEA95LA149

During the landing roll, the airplane veered to the left and into the tall grass alongside the airstrip. The pilot tried to correct with right rudder control and power; however, the airplane continued off the airstrip, through the tall grass and collided with a fence. The airguide indicates that the runway is 150 feet wide; however, the pilot reported that the grass had been mowed to only a 21 foot width. The remaining area around the airstrip was tall grass.

On July 15, 1995, at 0745 Pacific daylight time, an experimental Edwin J. Estenson RV-4, N90EE, collided with a fence, after the pilot lost control of the airplane during the landing roll at the Elk River Airstrip, Elk River, Idaho. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the private pilot and his pilot rated passenger were not injured. The flight had originated from Walla Walla, Washington, on July 15, 1995, at 0650, for a personal flight.

In a written statement, the pilot reported that he was landing on runway 17, which is a combination gravel and grass airstrip. The pilot stated that after touch down, the airplane inadvertently veered to the left and into tall grass along side the airstrip. The pilot tried to correct with right rudder control and power, however, the airplane continued off the airstrip, through the grass, and collided with a fence.

The Idaho Airguide for the Elk River Airport indicates that the runway is 2,600 feet long and 150 feet wide. The pilot reported that the grass had been mowed short to allow an approximate 21 foot width. The remaining area was tall grass.