SODUS, NY, USA
N612FL
Piper PA-28-140
The pilot and passenger flew a local flight from a private airstrip and had returned to land. On final approach to the north runway, the pilot notice rain on the windshield. The pilot flared high and the airplane touched down about halfway down the 2,200 foot wet grass runway. The airplane skidded on the wet grass and ran off the end of the runway and struck trees. Winds at an airport about 35 miles to the west of the private strip were reported from 190 degrees at 4 knots. The pilot obtained his private pilot certificate in 1983, and after a 13 year lay off from flying, had flown about 7 hours during the previous 90 days, and 1 hour in the past 30 days. His estimated total flight experience was 64 hours, of which 15 were as a pilot-in-command.
On August 2, 1996, at 2020 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, N612FL, was substantially damaged when it ran off the end of the runway at a private airstrip in Sodus, New York. The certificated private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight that originated at Sodus, about 1915. No flight plan had been filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the pilot stated: "...We flew locally within a 10 mile radius of the airstrip and returned at about 2015. While on final approach some moisture, dew or rain drops appeared on the windshield. I flared a little high and carried down the runway touching down just before the hanger. As I slowed, I attempted to brake, but realized I was sliding. As I approached the north end of the runway...I still kept skidding on the wet runway. I determined the plane was not going to stop so I lined myself up to allow only the wings to contact two trees..." According to the Federal Aviation Administration Inspector, the grass was wet, and the airplane had touched down to the north, about halfway down the 2,200 foot strip. Winds at an airport about 35 miles to the west of Sodus were reported from 190 degrees at 4 knots. The pilot obtained his private pilot certificate on May 19, 1983. He moved his residence in 1983, and did not resume flying until about 3 months prior to the accident. The pilot estimated that his total flying experience was about 64 hours, of which 15 hours were as pilot-in-command. The pilot estimated that he had flown about 7 hours during the previous 90 days, all in make and model, of which 1 hour was during the previous 30 days.
The pilot's failure to obtain the proper touchdown point, which resulted in insufficient runway to stop the airplane, and the subsequent overrun. Factors in the accident were the wet grass runway surface, and the pilot's lack of recent flying experience.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
Aviation Accidents App
In-Depth Access to Aviation Accident Reports
