Friedman Memorial Airport: Hailey, Idaho

Airport is located 1 mile south east of Hailey, Idaho.

Accident occurred Sunday, September 13, 2009 in Hailey, ID
Probable Cause Approval Date: 12/29/2009
Aircraft: BEECH V35, registration: N81895
Injuries: 4 Uninjured.
The pilot reported that during the landing roll on runway 31, the airplane encountered a crosswind. He was unable to maintain directional control and the airplane departed the runway surface. The nose wheel subsequently collapsed and a post-crash fire erupted in the engine compartment. Inspection of the airplane found that the firewall sustained substantial damage. The reported winds at the time of the accident were 190 degrees at 10 knots gusting to 18 knots. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane at the time of the accident.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing in crosswind conditions.
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Accident occurred Sunday, July 06, 2008 in Hailey, ID
Probable Cause Approval Date: 6/11/2009
Aircraft: LANCAIR COMPANY LC41-550FG, registration: N2544W
Injuries: 2 Uninjured.
The airplane was designed to use differential braking for directional control while taxiing. The pilot reported that while taxiing for departure, the right brake failed. Subsequently, the airplane departed the left side of the taxiway, impacted a pole and went down an embankment, striking an airport perimeter fence. The left composite wing tip was split open and the wing's leading edge had an 8- to 10-inch chordwise rip in it. Postaccident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector found that the right brake O-ring in the piston that operates the caliper was hard and flat. When brake fluid was put in the system and the brakes were pumped, the brake fluid was observed to pass directly through the right-hand caliper onto the ground.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:

The loss of directional control while taxiing due to the failure of the right brake.
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Accident occurred Thursday, June 14, 2007 in Hailey, ID
Probable Cause Approval Date: 8/30/2007
Aircraft: Cessna 210M, registration: N33AG
Injuries: 2 Minor.
The pilot reported that during touchdown on runway 31, the airplane encountered unforecasted, low-level turbulence combined with a strong quartering tailwind which forced the tail section to the right. The airplane veered to the left and departed the runway surface, which resulted in the collapse of the nose gear. The pilot reported that rudder inputs were ineffective in the strong gusting conditions. The automated surface observation at the airport reported winds from 200 degrees at 13 knots, gusting to 19. The pilot reported no mechanical failure or malfunction with the airplane at the time of the accident.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll. Wind gusts and a quartering tailwind were factors.
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Accident occurred Tuesday, June 12, 2007 in Hailey, ID
Probable Cause Approval Date: 8/30/2007
Aircraft: Piper PA-18-150, registration: N4018Z
Injuries: 1 Uninjured.
The pilot reported that during a downwind takeoff on runway 13, as he raised the tail of the aircraft, the wind pushed the aircraft up and to the left, pushing him off of the runway. While attempting to correct, the aircraft ground looped. The winds were reported from 340 degrees at eight knots. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the aircraft at the time of the accident.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff ground roll. A tailwind was a factor.
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Accident occurred Sunday, July 30, 2006 in Hailey, ID
Probable Cause Approval Date: 11/29/2006
Aircraft: Cessna 180H, registration: N89SJ
Injuries: 1 Uninjured.
The pilot reported that while taxiing on the runway after landing he relaxed back pressure on the elevator and subsequently encountered a crosswind gust which picked up the left wing. The pilot stated that the airplane then veered to the left, which lifted the left wing even further, resulting in the right wing striking the ground. The airplane then nosed over and came to rest on the left side of the runway, inverted, and oriented on a southwest heading. According to the local weather reporting system, a special observation at 1214 indicated wind 210 degrees at 10 knots, gusting to 16 knots.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during taxi, which resulted in a nose over. A factor was the wind gust condition.
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Accident occurred Sunday, July 30, 2006 in Hailey, ID
Probable Cause Approval Date: 10/31/2006
Aircraft: Cessna 180J, registration: N42401
Injuries: 2 Uninjured.
In a written report, the pilot stated that during the landing rollout "a gust [of wind] came up and I lost directional control. I made the proper corrections but the aircraft was at the end of the landing phase and ground looped to the left." The pilot reported that winds at the time of the accident were from 250 degrees at 15-20 knots and gusting.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:

The pilot's failure to adequately compensate for wind conditions.
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Accident occurred Saturday, July 23, 2005 in Hailey, ID
Probable Cause Approval Date: 10/27/2005
Aircraft: American Champion (ACAC) 7ECA, registration: N16JE
Injuries: 1 Uninjured.

During the initial touchdown, the pilot inadvertently allowed the aircraft to bounce back into the air. At that time the aircraft encountered a crosswind gust that turned it away from the runway heading. When the aircraft touched down a second time, it was not aligned with the runway heading, and during his attempt to realign the aircraft with the runway, the pilot over-corrected, and the aircraft veered off the left side of the runway. After departing the runway, the aircraft encountered soft terrain, followed immediately by the collapse of the right main gear. According to the pilot, there was no problem with any of the aircraft's flight controls.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:

The pilot's inadequate recovery from a bounced landing and his failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. Factors include a crosswind, and soft terrain just off the side of the runway surface.
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Accident occurred Sunday, June 26, 2005 in Hailey, ID
Probable Cause Approval Date: 12/20/2005
Aircraft: Mooney M20J, registration: N201U
Injuries: 1 Serious.
The pilot said that he had been cleared to land. He said that he was at approximately 300 feet above ground level (AGL) when the nose of his airplane pitched up approximately 15 degrees and the left wing dropped approximately 30 degrees. He said he "attempted to correct this condition with both the ailerons and rudder, with no results. It was as if the yoke was locked with a gust lock." The pilot said that he immediately checked the location of a flight bag and oxygen bottle that were on the floor in front of the front passenger 's seat to make certain that they were not interfering with the yoke or rudders, which they weren't. He said that he had been hand flying the airplane for several minutes, but he confirmed that the auto pilot was off. The pilot said that he believed that he was approaching a stall, so he increased power to full power. Soon, thereafter, he impacted the ground after approximately 160 degrees of left hand turn. A witness said that
the airplane was on a 1/4 mile final with landing gear and flaps down. He said that it looked like the airplane started to go-around to the left with a high power setting. He said that when the airplane had turned approximately 180 degrees, its left wing impacted terrain and the airplane cartwheeled. Another witness said that the airplane was never more that 100 to 150 feet above the ground during this maneuver. The pilot had recently completed (June 5, 2005) a Mooney Pilot Proficiency Program, and received his FAA required flight review endorsement. He had flown the airplane approximately 31 hours during the previous 30 days. The density altitude at the time of the accident was calculated to be 7,292 feet.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while on final approach for undetermined reasons.