What happened
On the day of the accident, the pilot of a Piper PA-24-250 departed using runway 36. At the time of takeoff, the windsock indicated a west wind, and the temperature was approximately 83 degrees Fahrenheit. During the initial climb, the pilot noted reduced performance.
Following a local flight lasting about 15 minutes, the pilot returned to the airport for a full stop landing. The pilot elected to use runway 36 again without rechecking the windsock. An eyewitness reported that at the time of the landing, the wind was actually coming from the south. During the landing attempt, the pilot observed that the aircraft would not settle properly. Although the pilot considered aborting the landing, he decided to continue due to the aircraft's position and the previously noted climb performance issues.
After touchdown, the pilot retracted the wing flaps to achieve maximum braking performance. Because the aircraft was equipped with hand-activated brakes, this action delayed the application of the brakes. As the aircraft reached approximately 30 mph, the pilot steered the plane off the right side of the runway to avoid running off the end and causing more severe damage. The Piper PA-24-250 traveled down an embankment and came to a stop in underbrush and trees approximately 250 feet beyond the runway. There were no injuries reported.
Findings
The investigation noted that the pilot's decision to retract flaps for braking, combined with the use of hand-activated brakes, resulted in a delay in deceleration. The aircraft ultimately exited the runway surface via the right side.