Small Aircraft
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Commercial
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 61; Flight Crew Total 3331; Flight Crew Type 1180
Situational Awareness
Conflict Ground Conflict; Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors; Airport
I was flying with a student on a local training flight that included a simulated power failure with forced landing at Hazel Green Airport; AL (M38). According to the FAA Chart supplement; this runway is asphalt; 2;670 feet long; and 40 feet wide. Aircraft X has a wing span of 36 feet 1 inch. Winds were calm as we approached to land on Runway 25. Our approach was high and we touched-down with approximately 1;000 feet of runway remaining. There was enough runway to safely stop; but there was not a large margin. Once we started to brake; I assessed that we were committed to the landing and I did not think that there was not enough runway remaining for a go-around. As we approached the runway; I saw a man on a riding lawnmower mowing perpendicular to the runway. He mowed right up to the edge of the runway; turned-around; and continued mowing away from the runway. After we landed and had started to brake; I saw that the lawnmower had turned-around again and was now coming straight toward the runway. At that point we were on the runway; unable stop before reaching the lawnmower; and unable to go-around. As the lawnmower approached the runway the man didn't look right or left; only straight ahead. He reached the edge of the runway at the moment we passed. If he had not turned-away at the very edge of the runway; I have no doubt that we would have hit him. I'm not sure whether or not my wing passed over his head. We stopped at the end of Runway 25 and turned-around. The man was continuing to mow the grass. I elected to takeoff on Runway 7 so that we could better time the lawnmowers passes and pass him when he was well away from the runway. The takeoff was uneventful and we passed well clear of the lawnmower.
Instructor pilot reported a ground conflict with a lawnmower while on landing roll out.