SEA98LA184

While landing with a tailwind at the 2,125 foot grass airstrip, the aircraft was hit by a wind gust that pushed it toward the side of the runway. The pilot, who had landed to the west, decided to execute a go-around. While attempting the go-around toward rising terrain and tall trees, the pilot allowed the airspeed to fall below stalling speed (Vs), and the aircraft stall/mushed into the terrain. A note in the Airport/Facility Directory stated, 'Land to West, takeoff to East.'

On September 20, 1998, approximately 1350 Pacific daylight time, a Taylorcraft BC12-D, N95318, impacted the terrain during an attempted go-around at Flying M Ranch, about eight miles west of Yamhill, Oregon. The private pilot and his passenger received minor injuries, and the aircraft, which was owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal pleasure flight, which departed Troutdale Airport, Portland, Oregon, about 50 minutes earlier, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed, and there was no report of an ELT activation.

According to the pilot, he took off from Evergreen Airport, Vancouver, Washington, about 1200. He then flew to Troutdale Airport, where he filled his center fuel tank and picked up a passenger. Upon arriving at Flying M Ranch, he elected to land on the 2,125 foot runway 25 with a tailwind of about 5 knots. Just after the aircraft touched down on the grass airstrip, it was hit with a gust of wind that pushed it toward the side of the runway. At that point, the pilot decided to make a go-around. While attempting to climb out at a rate that would clear the trees and rising terrain off the departure end of runway 25, the aircraft stalled and impacted the terrain.

In a post-accident interview with an FAA inspector, the pilot said that there did not seem to be anything wrong with the engine, and that in the 20-plus times he had landed there before, he had never attempted a go-around.

A note concerning this airstrip found in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Airport/Facility Directory states, "Land to West, takeoff to East."