A C182 PLT LANDED ON A WET GRASS STRIP AND SLID OFF THE END INTO A DITCH; DAMAGING THE PROP AND NOSE GEAR.

Narrative

WENT OUT TO DO SOME SHORT FIELD TKOFS AND LNDGS WITH A COPLT WITH A LOT OF TIME IN MAKE AND MODEL. DID 4 LNDGS ON A GRASS STRIP THAT WAS APPROX 2500 FT. WAS STOPPING LESS THAN 1/2 OF RWY SO WENT TO ANOTHER STRIP THAT HAD A SIMILAR LAYOUT EXCEPT WAS 1400 FT. I FELT THAT TOUCHDOWN WAS EARLY ENOUGH SO STARTED TO APPLY BRAKES AND COULD FEEL TIRES SLIPPING ON GRASS WHICH WAS NORMAL AT FIRST. EXPECTING TIRES TO GET TRACTION AT ANY TIME; I HELD FIRM PRESSURE AND SLIPPED OFF END OF RWY INTO A DITCH BENDING MY PROP AND COLLAPSING NOSE GEAR. UPON REFLECTION AFTERWARDS; I NOTICED 2 DIFFERENCES IN THE STRIPS BESIDES LENGTH. GRASS WAS LONGER AND FIELD WAS SOFTER BECAUSE OF A SOD FIELD THAT WAS BEING IRRIGATED PROBABLY EVERY 2 DAYS ON FIRST STRIP; PROVIDING MUCH MORE DRAG ON PLANE SHORTENING STOPPING DISTANCE. SECOND STRIP HAD JUST BEEN MOWED VERY SHORT AND A HVY DEW HAD SETTLED IN MAKING WHAT SEEMED LIKE ICE. NO DOUBT I SHOULD HAVE DONE A GAR BUT WAITED TOO LONG; EXPECTING TIRES TO GRAB. NO ONE WAS INJURED THANK GOD; BUT I LEARNED THE HARD WAY TO PUT MORE THOUGHT ABOUT GRASS AND RWY CONDITIONS.