On September 2, 1991, a Cessna C-340A (registration N4298C) operated by Norman Baron was involved in an aviation accident near Brawley, CA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF THE WRONG LANDING RUNWAY AND HIS FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN LOCATION. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE RELATED TO THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE OBSERVATIONS OF THE WEATHER AND THE TAILWIND CONDITION WHICH EXISTED. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A pilot returning to his home base airport overran the runway after landing with a 20-25 knot tailwind, colliding with a pole and catching fire.
Accident Details
The pilot was returning to his home base airport. He overflew the uncontrolled airport and then entered the traffic pattern for Runway 26. The runway was over 4400 feet long. The pilot reported that he observed the wind sock was parallel to the runway but failed to initially observe that he was landing with a nearly direct 20 to 25 knot tailwind. The airplane touched down long, overran the runway's departure end, collided with a pole, and caught fire.
Pilot Actions
According to the pilot's report, he overflew the airport before joining the traffic pattern. He saw the wind sock parallel to the runway. However, he did not immediately realize that the wind was a direct tailwind of significant strength. This led to a long landing.
Accident Sequence
The airplane touched down long on Runway 26. It continued past the departure end, overrunning the runway. The aircraft then struck a pole and subsequently caught fire.