On July 1, 2003, a Cessna A185F (registration N30CM) was involved in an aviation accident near Eveleth, MN. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's misjudgment of speed and distance resulting in an overrun. Factors were the ditch embankment, and the tailwind component. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An airplane overran a grass runway and struck a ditch embankment after touching down past the halfway point with a 5-knot tailwind, according to the pilot.
Accident Details
The airplane was substantially damaged when it departed the grass runway and impacted a ditch embankment. The pilot reported that during the final landing attempt, he landed after passing a mower that had cleared the runway about one-quarter of the way down its length. He stated that he touched down beyond the midpoint of the runway and was traveling too fast to stop on the grass surface, resulting in the overrun and subsequent collision with the ditch embankment.
Pilot Statement
The pilot indicated no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane. The calculated tailwind component at the time of landing was 5 knots.