<< >> NASA ASRS Report 218931, August 1992

An small aircraft hit an approach light on approach to landing. There was no damage reported, other than the propeller, and no injuries.

Attributes
ACN	218931
Time
Date	199208
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dto
State Reference	TX
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing other
Route In Use	approach : straight in
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	observation : passenger
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 3 flight time total : 140 flight time type : 40
ASRS Report	218931
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Events
Anomaly	conflict : ground critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course flight crew : overcame equipment problem none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Just after turning final 1 mi from runway 17 at 1300 MSL dto, tx, a departing aircraft pulled into position for takeoff and held. This aircraft started rolling, but the acceleration appeared to be slow, and I advised the pilot that we might have to break off the approach. The pilot was also watching the aircraft and started making small s-turns to gain separation and improve visibility. Just as I informed the pilot that the aircraft was clear of the runway, he applied power. I saw an approach light on my left. There was a thump and vibrating indicating a propeller strike. The aircraft was landed without further incident. The tandem seat aircraft did not afford good forward visibility for the pilot and at the time I thought he was flying the approach and relying on my assessment of the runway situation. As it turned out, he had fixated on the aircraft on the runway to the detriment of the approach and allowed the aircraft to get too low with 1/4 mi (approximately) to go to touchdown.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN SMA HIT AN APCH LIGHT ON APCH TO LNDG. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE RPTED, OTHER THAN THE PROP, AND NO INJURIES.

Narrative: JUST AFTER TURNING FINAL 1 MI FROM RWY 17 AT 1300 MSL DTO, TX, A DEPARTING ACFT PULLED INTO POS FOR TKOF AND HELD. THIS ACFT STARTED ROLLING, BUT THE ACCELERATION APPEARED TO BE SLOW, AND I ADVISED THE PLT THAT WE MIGHT HAVE TO BREAK OFF THE APCH. THE PLT WAS ALSO WATCHING THE ACFT AND STARTED MAKING SMALL S-TURNS TO GAIN SEPARATION AND IMPROVE VISIBILITY. JUST AS I INFORMED THE PLT THAT THE ACFT WAS CLR OF THE RWY, HE APPLIED PWR. I SAW AN APCH LIGHT ON MY L. THERE WAS A THUMP AND VIBRATING INDICATING A PROP STRIKE. THE ACFT WAS LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. THE TANDEM SEAT ACFT DID NOT AFFORD GOOD FORWARD VISIBILITY FOR THE PLT AND AT THE TIME I THOUGHT HE WAS FLYING THE APCH AND RELYING ON MY ASSESSMENT OF THE RWY SITUATION. AS IT TURNED OUT, HE HAD FIXATED ON THE ACFT ON THE RWY TO THE DETRIMENT OF THE APCH AND ALLOWED THE ACFT TO GET TOO LOW WITH 1/4 MI (APPROX) TO GO TO TOUCHDOWN.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.