What happened
The pilot reported that he was attempting to land on a private sod airfield. The runway measured approximately 1,500 feet in length and was covered with dew at the time of the incident. Upon touchdown, the aircraft utilized roughly 1,000 feet of the available runway before coming to a stop. However, the pilot was unable to halt the aircraft within the remaining distance, causing it to overrun the end of the runway. The aircraft subsequently struck a group of trees located just beyond the runway threshold.
The investigation
No mechanical examination or physical evidence analysis is described in the source material. The narrative relies entirely on the pilot's statement regarding the landing conditions and the outcome of the event.
Findings
The primary contributing factor to the accident was the inability to stop the aircraft on the available runway. The surface conditions, specifically the dew covering the sod airfield, likely reduced braking efficiency. The pilot landed with approximately 1,000 feet of runway remaining but could not bring the aircraft to a halt before reaching the end of the paved or prepared surface.
Safety message
Pilots operating on short, unpaved, or wet surfaces should carefully evaluate stopping distance requirements. Runway conditions such as moisture can significantly reduce braking performance, necessitating longer landing rolls than dry pavement calculations might suggest.