Accident Overview
On April 1, 2026, about 1635 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-31T1, registration N96MA, was substantially damaged in a runway excursion accident near Ocean City, New Jersey. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 positioning flight.
Flight and Approach
The pilot reported that the instrument flight rules (IFR) flight from Gaithersburg, Maryland, was uneventful. The flight was cleared for a visual approach to runway 6 at Ocean City Municipal Airport (26N). The automated weather observation system (AWOS) reported the wind as calm. The pilot flew the GPS approach to runway 6 utilizing lateral and vertical guidance. The airplane was configured for landing at the final approach fix, and the pilot flew a stable approach on the “blue” line (112 knots indicated airspeed, best one-engine-inoperative climb speed), then slowed to final approach speed once landing was assured.
Landing and Runway Excursion
About 300 ft above ground level, the pilot slowed the airplane further. The airplane landed on the appropriate touchdown point, and initial deceleration seemed normal. However, at about 30 knots, the pilot was unable to slow the airplane further despite applying maximum brake pressure; the brakes appeared ineffective. He continued applying maximum pressure on the brake pedals. As the airplane departed the end of the 2,972-ft-long runway, both main landing gear tires “grabbed” and the airplane veered to the left. The right main landing gear contacted soft ground and collapsed. The airplane then spun 180° and came to rest upright about 30 ft beyond the end of the runway.
Weather Information
After securing and exiting the airplane, the pilot noticed that the windsock was indicating a direct tailwind from 240° at 15 knots. The pilot stated that the windsock was not visually discernible during the approach and he was relying on the AWOS report, which indicated calm wind. The pilot captured a screenshot of the AWOS information showing calm wind and a photograph of the windsock. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Additional Reports
The pilot of another airplane, N96GD, who landed about 20 minutes before the accident, also reported that the AWOS was reporting calm wind but noted after touchdown on runway 6 that he had a direct tailwind in excess of 8 knots. During a telephone conversation, the airport manager at 26N stated that the AWOS was an “AV” AWOS, indicating that the altimeter setting and visibility information were certified, but that the wind information was advisory only. He added that he had not received other reports of a discrepancy between actual wind and AWOS broadcasts, and that a weather front passed through the area about the time of the accident. Atlantic City International Airport (ACY), about 13 miles north, recorded wind from 240° at 8 knots at 1554 and from 130° at 8 knots at 1654. Cape May County Airport (WWD), about 23 miles southwest, recorded wind from 150° at 7 knots at 1556 and from 120° at 5 knots at 1656.