Incident Overview
During arrival, the pilot entered a traffic pattern for what he believed, based on his directional gyro, was runway 9. However, the aircraft landed on runway 3, which was shorter than expected. Runway 9 was 2,500 feet long, while runway 3 measured only 1,520 feet.
Sequence of Events
The pilot was unable to bring the aircraft to a stop on runway 3. After departing the end of the runway, the aircraft struck a concrete block that was not visible in the surrounding grass. The source notes that presumably, the pilot did not cross-check his directional gyro with the magnetic compass.
Contributing Factors
The discrepancy between the intended runway (runway 9) and the actual runway (runway 3) highlights the importance of verifying navigation instruments. The pilot's reliance on the directional gyro without cross-checking the magnetic compass likely led to the error.