What happened
During a flight to Marshfield Airstrip, the pilot attempted to land on the 880-yard grass runway, which is oriented 08/26. Upon arrival, the pilot observed winds from 300°, representing a crosswind component. The pilot intended to land on runway 08, believing the strip had an uphill slope in that direction, which would assist with deceleration. After performing two approaches and go-arounds to evaluate the crosswind strength, a third approach was initiated.
During the final approach, the aircraft passed near trees at the runway threshold and touched down between the one-third and one-half marks of the strip. While the pilot believed this touchdown point was a calculated decision to utilize an uphill gradient, the aircraft had actually landed in a downhill, downwind direction. Due to the wet grass surface and the incorrect orientation of the slope, the pilot could not stop the aircraft before the end of the runway. The aircraft struck a low, dry stone wall at approximately 15 knots and stopped 10 meters beyond the wall after the landing gear collapsed rearwards. There were no injuries reported, and all occupants exited the aircraft safely.
Findings
- The pilot misidentified the runway's slope, leading to a landing in a downhill direction rather than the intended uphill direction.
- The presence of wet grass contributed to the inability to stop the aircraft within the remaining runway length.