Accident Overview
On March 15, 2024, at approximately 1627 eastern daylight time, a Cirrus Design Corporation SR20 airplane, registration N312DD, sustained substantial damage during an accident near Logan, West Virginia. The pilot received minor injuries, while the three passengers were not injured. The flight was operated under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight.
Flight Details
The flight departed Greenville Downtown Airport (GMU) in Greenville, South Carolina, around 1456, with the intended destination of Logan County Airport (6L4) in Logan, West Virginia.
Pilot Account
According to the pilot, during the landing at 6L4, he attempted to stop the airplane using normal braking. Believing the airplane was not slowing sufficiently, he applied more aggressive braking. The airplane then began to yaw left and continued without adequate deceleration. The pilot decided to abort the landing, released the brakes, aligned the airplane with the runway, and applied full power. He estimated that he was near the runway numbers at the departure end when he initiated the go-around. As best he could determine, the airplane never rose above the runway elevation as it went off the runway into a ravine. The stall warning sounded, and he lowered the nose to avoid a stall/spin. The left wing then struck an object, causing the airplane to yaw sideways; it subsequently impacted another solid object, spinning the airplane backward. The airplane came to rest facing opposite its direction of travel. The engine was found about 50 feet away, further down the ravine. After ensuring everyone was safe, the occupants called 911 and exited the aircraft. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions and noted that he likely encountered an adverse wind during the landing.
Damage and Marks
Logan County Airport is situated at an elevation of 1,664 feet. An FAA inspector observed skid marks in the grass beyond the runway's departure end, consistent with the airplane touching down, leaving the paved surface, and traveling approximately 321 feet on its landing gear before dropping off the airport surface, which was about 36 feet above the surrounding terrain. The airplane then continued another 244 feet, clearing the airport perimeter fence before striking trees.
Weather Information
Before landing, the pilot requested an area navigation (RNAV) approach for runway 24, then later for runway 6. The air traffic controller noted areas of precipitation in the vicinity, which the pilot acknowledged. The automated weather observing system (AWOS) at 6L4 reported conditions at 1615 as wind from 270° at 4 knots, visibility 8 statute miles, scattered clouds at 900 feet, ceiling broken at 1,500 feet, overcast at 2,300 feet, temperature 15°C, dew point 14°C, altimeter 29.89 in Hg. At 1635, the AWOS reported wind from 290° at 8 knots gusting to 14 knots, variable between 220° and 320°, visibility 1 and 3/4 statute miles, moderate rain, few clouds at 300 feet, ceiling broken at 800 feet, overcast at 1,400 feet, temperature 14°C, dew point 14°C, altimeter 29.89 in Hg. Meteorological radar data indicated that around the time of the accident, the airport was under light to heavy precipitation approaching from the west-northwest.
Data Analysis
Review of data from the airplane's remote data module (RDM) showed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions. The RDM data indicated that at 1627:04, the airplane was about 500 feet beyond the approach threshold of runway 6, at 25 feet agl, with a groundspeed of 89 knots. Touchdown occurred about 5 seconds later at a groundspeed of 85 knots.