Landing and Runway Excursion
An airplane was landing on runway 11, a 2,579-foot-long, 50-foot-wide asphalt runway. The pilot initially reported that the airplane touched down about one-third down the runway, the left brake "stayed on a little longer" than the right brake, and the airplane departed the left side of the runway. Subsequently, the pilot reported on the NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report form that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions.
Several witnesses, including two flight instructors, reported that the airplane approached high and fast, touched down about two-thirds down the runway, and veered off the left side of the runway during braking.
Investigation Findings
Examination of the runway by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed even skid marks, beginning about 733 feet from the end of the runway, traveling off the left side of the runway. The FAA inspector added that the airplane subsequently struck a snowbank and sustained damage to the right wing spar. Examination of the brakes by the FAA inspector did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions.
Weather Conditions
The reported winds at an airport about 15 miles north of the accident site, about the time of the accident, were from 020 degrees at 6 knots. However, one of the flight instructor witnesses reported that the winds were favoring runway 29, at 5 to 10 knots, at the time of the accident.