Accident Details
On August 15, 2022, at about 1000 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28, registration N5341W, was substantially damaged during a landing accident at Sky Landings Airport (22MS) in Lucedale, Mississippi. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot and passenger were not injured.
The pilot reported that he configured the airplane with 30° of flaps and an approach speed of approximately 75 knots to achieve a soft landing on the turf runway. After the nosewheel touched down during the landing roll, the airplane began to slide to the left. The pilot applied right rudder and handbrake to correct. Believing the brakes had locked, he attempted to keep the airplane centered on the runway. The airplane then turned violently to the left, departed the runway, and impacted a peanut field. The airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. Substantial damage was sustained to the right wing and vertical stabilizer. The pilot noted that this was his first landing with the airplane on a turf runway.
Witness Account
A witness reported that the runway was wet from morning dew and observed the airplane's speed during rollout to be faster than normal. The witness then saw the airplane enter a skid, veer left, and exit the runway.
Postaccident Examination
Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the nosewheel tire pressure was too low to register on a tire pressure gauge, though no visible damage to the tire was present. The shimmy dampener exhibited little resistance in either direction. No other anomalies were observed with the main landing gear brake assemblies or tires that would have precluded normal operation.