Pilot of a pitts special biplane struck a runway light with the wingtip during landing on the runway...

Attributes
ACN	372149
Time
Date	199706
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : amw
State Reference	IA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	landing other
Flight Plan	VFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Sail Plane
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	ground : parked landing other
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 300 flight time total : 5500 flight time type : 50
ASRS Report	372149
Person 2
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Events
Anomaly	conflict : ground critical incursion : runway other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Ames, ia, runway 13, grass. Glider activity at ames uses runway 13 grass for landing, runway 13 hard surface for departure. I entered the pattern at 1500 ft AGL from the west, observed glider airborne. As I was waiting for glider to land, glider and tow plane departed runway 13 hard surface. Glider landed on runway 13 grass. As I was orbiting, waiting for glider to clear runway, glider and tow plane passed underneath me on downwind. Glider would not vacate runway 13 grass. I made low pass and they started to move the glider to the approach end of runway 13 grass. Runway 13 grass approximately 2000 ft long. Glider and ground crew on approach end of runway 13 grass. I entered circle to land for runway 13 grass. Glider was on left side of approach end to runway 13 grass. Ground personnel lethargically walking to south side of runway. In keeping personnel in sight, I chose the left side of runway 13 grass. Personnel had still not vacated approach as I passed. Landed on left side of runway 13 grass, touchdown and rollout uneventful, touched landing light with last 6 inches of wingtip -- minimal damage. Recommendation: just because gliders and tow planes have the right-of-way in the air, does not mean they own the airport and landing areas. It would be appreciated if they would realize this and accommodate us, as we are forced to accommodate them.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF A PITTS SPECIAL BIPLANE STRUCK A RWY LIGHT WITH THE WINGTIP DURING LNDG ON THE RWY EDGE DUE TO A GLIDER OCCUPYING THE RWY APCH AREA. THE ACFT RECEIVED ONLY MINOR WINGTIP DAMAGE.

Narrative: AMES, IA, RWY 13, GRASS. GLIDER ACTIVITY AT AMES USES RWY 13 GRASS FOR LNDG, RWY 13 HARD SURFACE FOR DEP. I ENTERED THE PATTERN AT 1500 FT AGL FROM THE W, OBSERVED GLIDER AIRBORNE. AS I WAS WAITING FOR GLIDER TO LAND, GLIDER AND TOW PLANE DEPARTED RWY 13 HARD SURFACE. GLIDER LANDED ON RWY 13 GRASS. AS I WAS ORBITING, WAITING FOR GLIDER TO CLR RWY, GLIDER AND TOW PLANE PASSED UNDERNEATH ME ON DOWNWIND. GLIDER WOULD NOT VACATE RWY 13 GRASS. I MADE LOW PASS AND THEY STARTED TO MOVE THE GLIDER TO THE APCH END OF RWY 13 GRASS. RWY 13 GRASS APPROX 2000 FT LONG. GLIDER AND GND CREW ON APCH END OF RWY 13 GRASS. I ENTERED CIRCLE TO LAND FOR RWY 13 GRASS. GLIDER WAS ON L SIDE OF APCH END TO RWY 13 GRASS. GND PERSONNEL LETHARGICALLY WALKING TO S SIDE OF RWY. IN KEEPING PERSONNEL IN SIGHT, I CHOSE THE L SIDE OF RWY 13 GRASS. PERSONNEL HAD STILL NOT VACATED APCH AS I PASSED. LANDED ON L SIDE OF RWY 13 GRASS, TOUCHDOWN AND ROLLOUT UNEVENTFUL, TOUCHED LNDG LIGHT WITH LAST 6 INCHES OF WINGTIP -- MINIMAL DAMAGE. RECOMMENDATION: JUST BECAUSE GLIDERS AND TOW PLANES HAVE THE RIGHT-OF-WAY IN THE AIR, DOES NOT MEAN THEY OWN THE ARPT AND LNDG AREAS. IT WOULD BE APPRECIATED IF THEY WOULD REALIZE THIS AND ACCOMMODATE US, AS WE ARE FORCED TO ACCOMMODATE THEM.

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.

Pilot of a pitts special biplane struck a runway light with the wingtip during landing on the runway edge due to a glider occupying the runway approach area. The aircraft received only minor wingtip damage.