On October 9, 1984, a Cessna 310C (registration N1794H) was involved in an aviation accident near Los Fresnos, TX. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain control of the aircraft during landing due to a strong tailwind, which resulted in the aircraft overrunning the runway. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
The pilot reported landing on runway 32 with vertical smoke visible nearby, then encountered a strong tailwind from a squall line that prevented stopping before the aircraft crossed a road and ditch.
What happened
The pilot stated that he landed on runway 32 after observing vertical rising smoke approximately one-half mile north of the airstrip. During the landing roll, he encountered a tailwind ranging from 20 to 25 knots generated by a small local squall line. The aircraft was unable to stop within the available runway distance. It continued past the end of the runway, crossed a ditch, traversed a road, and finally rolled into another ditch.
Findings
The primary factor contributing to the accident was the strong tailwind from the squall line which significantly increased ground speed and landing distance required. The pilot's decision to land in these conditions led to the overrun.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the aircraft during landing due to a strong tailwind, which resulted in the aircraft overrunning the runway.