What happened
The owner and student pilot, accompanied by his certified flight instructor (CFI), conducted a dual instructional flight to an airport featuring a 2,200-foot wet grass runway. The objective was to practice landing procedures. The approach end of the runway was lined with trees that had been trimmed to approximately 25 feet above ground level, down from their original height of 50 to 60 feet.
The first approach, intended for a touch-and-go landing, was executed at an excessive altitude, necessitating a go-around. The second approach was more successful; however, the student touched down approximately 1,050 feet down the runway. At this point, the CFI instructed the student to perform a full-stop landing instead of continuing with a touch-and-go.
The student applied the brakes but reported feeling little reduction in ground speed. The CFI then assumed control and applied hard braking while initiating S-turns to maximize deceleration. Despite these efforts, the aircraft could not stop within the remaining runway length. It eventually departed the runway surface while skidding, struck a ditch, and resulted in the collapse of the right main landing gear.
The investigation
Examination of the aircraft revealed no evidence of pre-impact malfunction or failure of the braking system. The investigation noted that according to the aircraft handbook, 1,650 feet was required to stop on dry pavement when landing over a 50-foot obstacle, highlighting the significant performance penalty imposed by the wet grass surface and the short runway length.
Findings
The primary factors contributing to the accident were the wet grass runway conditions and the insufficient remaining runway distance available for stopping after touchdown. The combination of these factors exceeded the aircraft's braking capability, leading to the overrun.