Stricken CJ-6 Clobbers Park Restroom While Avoiding Pedestrian

This is the second time in recent memory that an aircraft has taken out a "restroom" facility, but we're thankful (again) that the injuries (outside of some ribbing that the pilot will, no doubt, be taking) are minor. More important, the pilot of a CJ-6 with engine trouble did what he had to do when he saw that his emergency landing area was occupied by a pedestrian... opting instead for the zone that led to the eventual collision with the restroom.

NTSB Identification: WPR10LA130
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, February 07, 2010 in Mesa, AZ
Aircraft: NANCHANG CHINA CJ-6, registration: N6263D
Injuries: 1 Minor, 1 Uninjured.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

On February 7, 2010, about 0840 mountain standard time, a Nanchang China CJ-6, N6263D, experienced a loss of engine power and force landed in a park near Falcon Field Airport, Mesa, Arizona. The pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The certificated commercial pilot was not injured, and the passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The local flight departed Falcon Field, about 0800. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.

According to the pilot, about 30 minutes into what was planned to be a 45-minute flight, he began to feel the engine vibrating. He then turned the airplane back to Falcon Field, and as they joined the downwind leg he heard a loud, "bang." The engine then lost power, such that the it was no longer able to maintain altitude. The pilot then made a 180-degree turn with the intention of landing in an adjacent park. During the final approach, he observed someone walking on his intended landing area; he banked the airplane to the left and landed, during the ground roll the airplane collided with a restroom facility on the park property.

During the accident sequence, the right wing, firewall, and forward fuselage structure sustained substantial damage.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20100207X21828&key=1