What happened
The pilot reported that he was unable to see the lighted windsock while at an altitude of 1,000 feet during the approach. This difficulty arose because he was unfamiliar with the specific location of the windsock at the airport. Consequently, the aircraft landed downwind on the runway. The presence of a tailwind ranging from 15 to 20 knots contributed to the extended landing roll. The pilot was unable to stop the aircraft before it ran off the end of the runway.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the pilot's account of the approach and landing phase. Key factors identified included the pilot's lack of familiarity with the airport layout, specifically regarding the windsock position, and the prevailing weather conditions at the time of the accident.
Findings
Contributing factors to this accident were the pilot's failure to identify the wind direction due to being unfamiliar with the windsock location and the decision to land with a significant tailwind. The pilot stated that if he had landed into the wind, the night landing accident could have been avoided.