On May 11, 2006, a Piper PA-30 (registration N8585Y) was involved in an aviation accident near Dongola, IL. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's intentional maneuver to avoid obstructions at the end of the runway which resulted in the airplane impacting a ditch. The wet grass runway and the ditch were factors. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An airplane was damaged when it ran off a grass runway at a private airstrip. The pilot reported strong north winds and wet grass, which made braking difficult, leading to a veer into a ditch.
Accident Overview
An airplane was damaged when it departed the runway surface during landing at a private airstrip. The aircraft came to rest after contacting a ditch adjacent to the runway.
Pilot's Report
The pilot reported that upon arrival, winds were strong from the north. He elected to land into the wind, despite the runway sloping downhill in that direction. The pilot performed a slow approach in landing configuration before executing the landing. The touchdown was normal, but braking was intermittent for approximately 1,500 feet. The pilot stated that braking action was "almost impossible" due to the wet grass surface. To avoid tree stumps at the departure end of the runway, he veered the airplane to the left and off the runway. The pilot reported no mechanical problems with the airplane.
Runway Information
The pilot listed Runway 35 as having a length of 2,000 feet and a width of 75 feet. The runway was composed of grass.