Accident Details
A single-engine airplane overran the departure end of runway 10 while landing on a 1,900-foot-long by 100-foot-wide grass airstrip. The aircraft ran down an embankment and flipped over. The pilot was able to exit the aircraft without assistance. No mechanical anomalies or discrepancies were reported.
Pilot Account
The commercial pilot, who held 1,240 flight hours, reported on NTSB Form 6120.1 that he flew the airplane at 70 knots during the landing and did not apply brakes immediately after touchdown. He stated that when he did brake, it was too late; the airplane slowed to about 10 miles per hour before running off the runway, down an embankment, and flipping over. In the section asking how the accident could have been prevented, the pilot wrote that he should have landed at 60 or 65 knots and applied brakes right away.
Witness Observations
Two individuals witnessed the landing. One eyewitness recalled the aircraft appeared to be traveling fast and touched down near the midpoint of the runway, at approximately 950 feet. Another eyewitness reported that the airplane touched down smoothly but at a fast rate of speed, and that it did not appear to decelerate during the roll-out before overrunning the departure end of the runway into the terrain.
Airstrip Conditions
The airfield manager described the grass airstrip as well-maintained and dry at the time of the accident. Winds were from 330 degrees at 11 knots, gusting to 18 knots.