BE58P aircraft on visual approach sighted unmarked crane one fourth mi from end of runway. Reporter ...

Attributes
ACN	372840
Time
Date	199706
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : phl
State Reference	PA
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : hkg
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Baron 58/58TC
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 7020 flight time type : 250
ASRS Report	372840
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

While conducting a visual approach to a runway that I have landed many times prior, I was startled to see an unmarked crane that was approximately 1/4 mi from the end of the runway and in line with the runway. Not sure how high the crane was I banked right to be sure that I would clear the crane. Due to encountering a downdraft at that time, the approach was lower than usual, however a normal landing followed. The crane was not marked (no flag at the top) and no NOTAMS were on file for its presence. The crane ht was deceptive due to the boom being a telescopic design, not of a girder type construction which would have been more apparent. I later learned that the crane was 50 ft in ht. The runway was not served by a GS or VASI. If there had been a NOTAM or announcement on unicom and a flag on top, the crane would have been immediately visible. Contractors should be made aware of dangers near airports and encouraged to contact airport mgrs of their intentions.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: BE58P ACFT ON VISUAL APCH SIGHTED UNMARKED CRANE ONE FOURTH MI FROM END OF RWY. RPTR TOOK EVASIVE ACTION AND SAYS HE HIT A DOWNDRAFT WHICH MADE HIM LOW ON APCH. CRANE WAS 50 FT.

Narrative: WHILE CONDUCTING A VISUAL APCH TO A RWY THAT I HAVE LANDED MANY TIMES PRIOR, I WAS STARTLED TO SEE AN UNMARKED CRANE THAT WAS APPROX 1/4 MI FROM THE END OF THE RWY AND IN LINE WITH THE RWY. NOT SURE HOW HIGH THE CRANE WAS I BANKED R TO BE SURE THAT I WOULD CLR THE CRANE. DUE TO ENCOUNTERING A DOWNDRAFT AT THAT TIME, THE APCH WAS LOWER THAN USUAL, HOWEVER A NORMAL LNDG FOLLOWED. THE CRANE WAS NOT MARKED (NO FLAG AT THE TOP) AND NO NOTAMS WERE ON FILE FOR ITS PRESENCE. THE CRANE HT WAS DECEPTIVE DUE TO THE BOOM BEING A TELESCOPIC DESIGN, NOT OF A GIRDER TYPE CONSTRUCTION WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE APPARENT. I LATER LEARNED THAT THE CRANE WAS 50 FT IN HT. THE RWY WAS NOT SERVED BY A GS OR VASI. IF THERE HAD BEEN A NOTAM OR ANNOUNCEMENT ON UNICOM AND A FLAG ON TOP, THE CRANE WOULD HAVE BEEN IMMEDIATELY VISIBLE. CONTRACTORS SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF DANGERS NEAR ARPTS AND ENCOURAGED TO CONTACT ARPT MGRS OF THEIR INTENTIONS.

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.

BE58P aircraft on visual approach sighted unmarked crane one fourth mi from end of runway. Reporter took evasive action and says he hit a downdraft which made him low on approach. Crane was 50 ft.