Accident Overview
On an unspecified date, a commercial pilot and his passenger were involved in an accident at Sylvania Airport (C89) in Sturtevant, Wisconsin. The airplane overran Runway 8R, which is 2,272 feet long and 38 feet wide, surfaced with asphalt. The airplane collided with a fence and a ditch before coming to rest on a highway. The pilot was not injured; the passenger received minor injuries. The airplane sustained damage to its fuselage and both wings.
Flight Details
The aircraft was registered to Direct Action Aviation LLC and operated by Skydive Midwest. The flight was conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed, and the flight was not operated on a flight plan. The flight originated from Jackson County Airport-Reynolds Field (JXN) in Jackson, Michigan, around 1800 hours.
Pilot Account
The pilot reported that the landing approach was normal. As the airplane crossed the runway threshold, it floated, and he pulled the engine power levers to the stops. The passenger later told the pilot that the airplane had bounced, though the pilot did not recall this. The pilot then pulled the power levers to reverse, but experienced no immediate reverse thrust. He applied the brakes and felt the airplane accelerate. Recognizing he would not stop on the remaining runway, he attempted to steer the airplane to the north. The airplane departed the runway, impacted two ditches, and came to rest on a highway.
The pilot stated that he should have recognized that braking action would be significantly reduced due to the possibility of hydroplaning. He also acknowledged that pulling the power levers to the stops before touchdown induced a lag in the realization of reverse thrust. He further noted that he should have executed a go-around when the airplane floated before landing. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions of the airplane.
Weather Conditions
At 1853, weather conditions reported at Kenosha Regional Airport (ENW), located 6 miles south of the accident site, included heavy rain.
Probable Cause
The probable cause of the accident was the pilot's decision to continue the landing after touching down long and on a wet runway that reduced the airplane's braking capability, which resulted in an overrun.