No fatalities

Pilot Overshoots Wet Grass Runway and Impacts Ditch

Indianola, IA, United States

On April 17, 2017, a CHEUNG DAVID S VANS RV6 A was involved in an aviation accident near Indianola, IA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot’s failure to maintain an adequate approach path, which resulted in a long landing and subsequent runway overrun. This summary draws on records from NTSB.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-09-03Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot reported overshooting a wet, grass runway during landing and impacting a ditch. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mount, with no preimpact mechanical failures reported.

Incident Overview and Pilot Report The pilot reported that the aircraft overshot a wet, grass runway during landing and subsequently impacted a ditch. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Damage Assessment The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mount as a result of the impact. No other specific damage details were provided in the source material. ## Operational Context The source does not specify the aircraft type, registration, date, operator, location, or cause beyond the pilot's report of overshooting the wet, grass runway and impacting a ditch.

Contributing factors

Causes

Descent/approach/glide path — Not attained/maintainedPilot

Other contributing factors

Effect on equipment

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 17 Apr 2017 CHEUNG DAVID S VANS RV6 A accident near Indianola, IA?

A pilot reported overshooting a wet, grass runway during landing and impacting a ditch. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mount, with no preimpact mechanical failures reported.

Were there any fatalities in the 17 Apr 2017 CHEUNG DAVID S VANS RV6 A accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 17 Apr 2017 involved a CHEUNG DAVID S VANS RV6 A, at Indianola, IA.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot’s failure to maintain an adequate approach path, which resulted in a long landing and subsequent runway overrun.