Pilot Reports Left Drift During Landing, Aircraft Noses Over After Striking Corn Field

Incident Overview

A private-rated pilot conducted a local pleasure flight and returned to a private grass airfield. During the landing approach, the pilot reported being slightly left of the runway centerline and noted that a go-around should have been executed. The aircraft's left wingtip impacted standing corn on the left side of the runway, causing the airplane to continue left into the corn field. The aircraft subsequently nosed over and came to rest inverted.

Examination and Damage

Post-incident examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the fuselage and wings.

Pilot Comments

The pilot stated that poles located at the end of the runway were used to establish the runway's centerline, and that a field of standing corn was present on the left side of the runway. He acknowledged that being left of centerline during landing and failing to perform a go-around led to the accident sequence.