On August 12, 2007, a Mooney M20-C (registration N6837U) was involved in an aviation accident near Hicksville, OH. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to ensure adequate runway length was available for a safe landing, resulting in an overrun. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot aborted a landing on a short grass runway after touching down too far down the strip, resulting in the aircraft overrunning the end of the pavement and entering adjacent agricultural terrain.
What happened
The incident occurred during an attempt to land on a relatively short, unpaved airfield. The available runway surface consisted of grass and measured only 2,300 feet in length. According to the pilot's report, the aircraft touched down further down the strip than intended, a situation described as landing long.
Recognizing that there was insufficient distance remaining to stop safely, the pilot initiated a go-around procedure while still on the ground. However, the available runway length proved inadequate for the maneuver. The aircraft continued its forward momentum past the end of the usable grass surface and traveled an additional 150 feet into an adjacent cornfield before coming to rest.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to ensure adequate runway length was available for a safe landing, resulting in an overrun.