C172 has conflict with sailboat mast on approach to land.

Attributes
ACN	328298
Time
Date	199602
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : spg
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 100 msl bound upper : 100
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : spg
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 13 flight time total : 80 flight time type : 80
ASRS Report	328298
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	conflict : nmac
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Ambiguous

Narrative:

During short final to runway 36 a sailboat, which I had estimated would be clear, slowed down. I arrested my descent by applying power and maintained an altitude of 100 ft AGL. After passing the sailboat, I reduced power and performed a short field with obstacle landing. The rest of the landing was uneventful. My passenger noted that the landing gear was 60-75 ft above the sailboat mast tip. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter states that he has not encountered such a situation before. He has not heard other pilots speak of a problem. This was a beautiful day and more sailboats than usual were out. This particular boat was larger than most that sail in the area, about a 30 ft mast. The approachs for both runways 36 and 18 are overwater where there are marinas and shipping channels. Reporter had been practicing lndgs over an obstacle just the friday before which was very timely and gave him assurance. Otherwise he probably would have made a go around.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C172 HAS CONFLICT WITH SAILBOAT MAST ON APCH TO LAND.

Narrative: DURING SHORT FINAL TO RWY 36 A SAILBOAT, WHICH I HAD ESTIMATED WOULD BE CLR, SLOWED DOWN. I ARRESTED MY DSCNT BY APPLYING PWR AND MAINTAINED AN ALT OF 100 FT AGL. AFTER PASSING THE SAILBOAT, I REDUCED PWR AND PERFORMED A SHORT FIELD WITH OBSTACLE LNDG. THE REST OF THE LNDG WAS UNEVENTFUL. MY PAX NOTED THAT THE LNDG GEAR WAS 60-75 FT ABOVE THE SAILBOAT MAST TIP. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATES THAT HE HAS NOT ENCOUNTERED SUCH A SIT BEFORE. HE HAS NOT HEARD OTHER PLTS SPEAK OF A PROB. THIS WAS A BEAUTIFUL DAY AND MORE SAILBOATS THAN USUAL WERE OUT. THIS PARTICULAR BOAT WAS LARGER THAN MOST THAT SAIL IN THE AREA, ABOUT A 30 FT MAST. THE APCHS FOR BOTH RWYS 36 AND 18 ARE OVERWATER WHERE THERE ARE MARINAS AND SHIPPING CHANNELS. RPTR HAD BEEN PRACTICING LNDGS OVER AN OBSTACLE JUST THE FRIDAY BEFORE WHICH WAS VERY TIMELY AND GAVE HIM ASSURANCE. OTHERWISE HE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE MADE A GAR.

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.