Accident Details
On June 4, 2019, at approximately 0800 central daylight time, a Cessna 182P, registration N7317Q, was substantially damaged while landing at Elsanor Airport (1AL4) in Robertsdale, Alabama. The private pilot and a passenger sustained minor injuries. The flight, operated by Big Sky Flight LLC under 14 CFR Part 91, had departed Bob Sikes Airport (CEW) in Crestview, Florida, around 0715. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed.
Pilot Report
The pilot reported that during arrival, he approached runway 27, a 2,400-foot-long grass strip with tall trees on the approach end. On final approach, with flaps fully extended over the tree line, the airplane floated and touched down about one-quarter of the way down the runway. The pilot retracted the flaps and held up elevator, but the wet grass prevented the airplane from stopping. He applied left rudder to turn away from a road, and the airplane struck a ditch on the departure end before coming to rest upright. The pilot noted no preimpact mechanical malfunctions. Review of GPS tracklog data after the accident indicated the airplane may have floated past the first quarter of the runway before touchdown.
Aircraft Damage
An examination by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed damage to the empennage, horizontal stabilizer, engine mount, and firewall. Multiple buckles were present in the airframe from the engine area along the fuselage, and the nose gear was sheared off.
Weather Conditions
The recorded weather at CQF, about 17 nautical miles west of the airport, at 0755 included calm winds, visibility 10 miles, clear sky, temperature 28°C, dewpoint 25°C, and an altimeter setting of 30.02 inches of mercury.