Accident Summary
On September 30, 2018, at about 1420 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172, registration N4001F, was substantially damaged after it overran the runway while landing at Somerset County Airport (2G9), Somerset, Pennsylvania. The commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight, which originated around 1215. The personal flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
Pilot Statement
According to the pilot, he was practicing touch-and-go landings during the airplane's first flight since its annual inspection. He then departed the airport, flew locally for about 1.5 hours, and returned to land on runway 25. He noted a 6-knot left crosswind. While on final approach, he reduced engine power to perform the landing. When the airplane reached the end of the 5,000-foot-long runway, the pilot realized it was traveling too fast to stop before the runway ended, but not fast enough to abort the landing. The airplane continued off the end of the runway, down an embankment, and came to rest inverted about 150 feet from the runway end. The pilot reported that during full-stop landings, he lands further down the runway because his hangar is located at the far end.
Weather Information
The recorded weather observation at 2G9 at 1415 included wind from 140° at 6 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, clear skies, temperature 20°C, dew point 11°C, and a barometric altimeter setting of 30.31 inches of mercury.
Aircraft Examination
During the accident sequence, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the forward section of the fuselage and the vertical stabilizer. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the brakes after the accident and noted no anomalies. The pilot also reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions of the airplane prior to the accident that would have precluded normal operation.