Hello Backcountry Pilots,

An older gentleman ran his strait tail Cessna 182 off the end of my runway yesterday. I wasn’t there at the time. He did not have permission to land there. My concern isn’t a trespass thing, it’s just I don’t want to see anyone get hurt. My airstrip is very difficult requiring the right kind of airplane and skills too. He did not have any hull or liability insurance on his airplane either.

There is no FAA requirement to maintain aircraft insurance, but in my opinion it can be priceless. His aircraft did not damage my airstrip but easily could have taken out my neighbor’s fence.

Another thing to think about is an accident at any of the remote Forest Service or BLM airstrips. After about two weeks of your airplane on it’s back at a remote airstrip and the Forest Service will simply pick up the phone and call up a skycrane or similar type helicopter to have it removed at your expense $$$$$. I’d rather just call my insurance company myself.

Anyway the good news is there were no injuries associated with this Cessna 182 accident. This aircraft will most likely be totaled. “Sometimes school is very expensive”.

James
Clear Creek, Idaho
Note: I didn't post pictures with the N number

Why was he landing there?

As much as I gripe about the yearly insurance hit, being able to call them up for something like this and say, "You need to go pick up YOUR airplane. It's broke," is worth it.

And, "Oh yeah, send me a check too."

Gump

The damage doesn't look too bad. What's the condition?

Scolopax wrote:The damage doesn't look too bad. What's the condition?

Prop, engine tear-down, firewall damage, nose gear & tunnel $$$$$. Ouch!

James

Those repairs sdd up quickly.

Shit sucks. He walked away but looks like he was in over his head trying to put it down there. Did he have other issues that forced him down or it just looked like a cool place to try? I've seen a few other people who don't carry insurance. One guy rebuilt his IO360 in his cardinal when it started to make metal only to have his nose gear collapse and have to tear it all down again, plus pay out of pocket for the nosewheel stuff 8 hours after the first rebuild.

Sounds like you're keeping a cool head about it, as would I. The only thing that gets me going is incompetence that puts myself and passengers (or others) in danger. Might be a wake up call for the gentleman to get his shit together before venturing out again

I suspect the checkout ride after the accident could be interesting.

I guess he did not get the briefing about landing on the hay field if needed.

The Cessna 182 owner called me today and wanted to drain the fuel out of the airplane and pull the battery. "What could possibly go wrong". Like I said earlier, he doesn't have any insurance. It isn't leaking any fuel and is sitting level. I have a lot of time, money and hard work getting my airstrip into the shape it's currently in. He also wants to get a "group of Volunteers" together to pull the wings and trailer it out.

I simply don't want him and his band of volunteers driving on my airstrip trying to get his airplane out of there. With recent rains I could be filling runts for years to come. I understand the gentleman is in a bad position, but I didn’t invite him to land at my place either. There is a lock on my runway gate that will stay there unless I’m there too.

James
Clear Creek

That really stinks. I feel for the guy. But if its your place, its private, and no permission... He should just ask you how you want it handled or hand you the keys to your new project.
Sounds like you've been more than nice about the whole thing.
Now days most people call the Feds, cops and attorneys before the dust settles.
Good luck!! Hope it all turns out well!
Keep us posted.

Wow, from the pictures it looks like he almost got stopped before sticking the wheel in the mud. At least he didn't panic and try to go around too late.

Some tracked skid steers have less ground pressure than a human footprint. That might be the most delicate extraction method short of a heli.

The weather and dew point are drying up now in Idaho with the season change. Static electricity may become a factor as Summer approaches. Be really careful de-fueling. Keep the guy away until you figure out who he his!

$0.02

wow James, he must have been coming in awfully hot... I haven't visited you yet at your place but I've watched a bunch of videos of landings and it seems as though most of them could have touched down at half point and still stopped...

Super-Maule wrote:Note: I didn't post pictures with the N number

Uh, actually,...

Define "older". You mean like 80 something, or my age???

My technique for landing at a private strip that seems interesting is to make a very low power flyby, keeping way away from any neighbors,and if I see anyone waggle my wings. Based on how enthusiastic their wave was I may or may not land. I've never had any problem doing this, but I am talking Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. Oh yeah, one last thing, I always land without running off the end of the runway I've done this more then once, but probably not more then once every couple years.

Scrap value of aluminum is pretty low right now, I just cashed in a barrel of beer cans. The tracked skidster, carefully operated, may be the best way to go.

"Define "older". You mean like 80 something, or my age???"

Mid seventies maybe?

not sure how people justify landing at a private strip without calling....?!

great looking strip James, good job...most 182's ive been around should be able to handle that one ok, in the right hands....good luck with the removal process...geesh...
had the chance once to hire ray arnolds son to remove one for me ...did a great job...

Super-Maule wrote:"Define "older". You mean like 80 something, or my age???"

Mid seventies maybe?

It does appear he's from Idaho you should be more careful about photoing the N numbers.
http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry ... rtxt=4088D

Boy this is a tough call. Up to now the liability has been all his since he trespassed. Letting him back in along with his friends opens you up to liability if any of them get hurt. I'd talk to a lawyer before letting anybody in, or if you belong to AOPA call their legal team.

I followed the posts on you building your strip. Looks like a real nice job. It does not look like it is anybodies way unless I fly up and land in the middle third of the strip touching down at 60 mph. Then we would have two totaled straight tails.

I would consider just leave it be and wait a few weeks tell the strip is good and dry. Have him bring a mechanic that has liability insurance to do the work. He can provide a cert of insurance.

My strip is also short but is in a more open area.


Tim

Why isn't Tipsy driving the tractor?