What happened
The pilot attempted to land on a 900-foot-long, newly cut grass strip that was wet and situated over a tree line. The landing was conducted with a tailwind. Upon touchdown, the pilot was unable to stop the aircraft within the available distance.
Attempting to avoid a collision at the end of the runway, the pilot initiated a go-around procedure. During this maneuver, the flaps were raised to one notch. The airplane became airborne just prior to reaching the end of the strip but subsequently flew into a thick thicket of briar and collided with an old building foundation located nearby.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the circumstances surrounding the landing attempt and the subsequent go-around maneuver. Key factors included the short length of the grass strip, its wet surface conditions, and the presence of a tailwind during the final approach.
Findings
Contributing factors to this accident included:
- The short length of the available landing surface (900 feet)
- Wet grass conditions reducing braking effectiveness
- Landing with a tailwind component
- Inadequate stopping distance on the grass strip
The aircraft sustained substantial damage after striking the building foundation. No injuries were reported to the pilot or any passengers, though specific injury counts were not detailed in the source material.
Safety message
Pilots should carefully evaluate landing surface conditions, including length, composition, and moisture content, before attempting operations on unimproved strips. Tailwinds significantly increase ground roll distance and reduce safety margins during landing operations.