At 12:30 Pacific time, a Piper PA-28R-200 landed short of the approach end of runway 22 at the Catalina Island Airport, shearing off the right main gear and damaging the right wing. The three occupants were not injured. Steeply downsloping terrain surrounds the airport on three sides and the terrain at the approach end of runway 22 is very precipitous down to the ocean below. The pilot said the airplane was caught in a downdraft as he came over the cliff edge for landing. The airplane landed hard approximately 20 feet short of the approach end of the runway.
Aug. 10, Avalon, Calif. / Piper Arrow
At 12:30 Pacific time, a Piper PA-28R-200 landed short of the approach end of runway 22 at the Catalina Island Airport, shearing off the right main gear and damaging the right wing. The three occupants were not injured. Steeply downsloping terrain surrounds the airport on three sides and the terrain at the approach end of runway 22 is very precipitous down to the ocean below. The pilot said the airplane was caught in a downdraft as he came over the cliff edge for landing. The airplane landed hard approximately 20 feet short of the approach end of the runway....
Key Takeaways:
- A Piper PA-28R-200 landed short of runway 22 at Catalina Island Airport, shearing off its right main gear and damaging the right wing, though the three occupants were uninjured.
- The pilot reported that the aircraft was caught in a downdraft as it came over the cliff edge, leading to the hard landing approximately 20 feet short of the runway.
- The incident occurred at an airport known for steeply downsloping and precipitous terrain on three sides, including a sharp drop to the ocean at the approach end of runway 22.
Key takeaways sponsored by Aviator Pro | Start Your Training ->
See a mistake? Contact us.
