Accident Overview
An airplane sustained substantial damage when it departed the runway during landing and encountered an irrigation ditch. The runway was a turf strip measuring 2,555 feet long by 100 feet wide. After landing, the aircraft skidded, hit a runway cone, and came to rest across from the end of the runway, just a few feet beyond an irrigation ditch.
Sequence of Events
The pilot reported that after takeoff, he intended to track a VOR navigation station to an intermediate fuel stop before continuing to his final destination. About 4 hours into the flight, he attempted to contact air traffic control to verify his position but was unable to establish contact. At that time, he began to lose confidence in his present position and decided to set a heading he believed was toward his intermediate fuel stop. After an additional hour of flight, he became concerned about his remaining fuel and contacted a Flight Service Station (FSS), informing them that he was "lost and short on fuel." The FSS located the flight and provided vectors to a nearby alternate airport.
Pilot's Report
The pilot noted that he did not have experience landing on grass runways. He did not indicate any failures or malfunctions with the aircraft's flight control system or engine. However, he mentioned the possibility of an intermittent radio transmission failure as a possible factor contributing to his becoming lost prior to the accident.
Landing Incident
Upon landing at the alternate airport, the aircraft went into a skid, hit a runway cone, and came to a stop across from the end of the runway, just a few feet beyond an irrigation ditch. The aircraft was substantially damaged.