Accident Overview
A pilot landed an aircraft downwind on a private airstrip. The exact tailwind speed could not be determined, but a thunderstorm located just east of the runway could have produced a strong tailwind. The aircraft touched down 390 feet beyond the runway threshold. Light braking action was evident from the touchdown point to a location 400 feet from a hangar, after which all tire marks disappeared.
The hangar was built at the end of and across the runway, approximately 10 feet above the runway surface. The aircraft collided with the hangar. The subsequent post-crash fire destroyed the aircraft. The passenger was seriously injured, and the pilot was killed.
Probable Cause (Official Findings)
Occurrence #1: In flight collision with object.
- Phase of operation: landing - aborted.
- Findings:
1. Object - building (nonresidential). 2. Brakes (normal) - improper use of - pilot in command. 3. Aborted landing - delayed - pilot in command. 4. Distance - misjudged - pilot in command. 5. Weather condition - tailwind. 6. Wrong runway - selected - pilot in command.
Occurrence #2: Fire.
- Phase of operation: landing.
The investigation identified that the pilot selected the wrong runway, landed with a tailwind, misjudged the distance available, delayed the aborted landing, and improperly used the brakes, resulting in collision with a building and subsequent fire.