MARICOPA, CA, USA
N5460T
Cessna TR182
Before landing at the private strip, the pilot noted a windsock approximately 1 mile to the north that indicated a light wind from the north. The pilot overflew the dirt strip and noted that the windsock indicated no wind, and he landed to the north. After touchdown, the pilot reported that a sudden gust of wind came up from behind the aircraft and he was unable to stop prior to overrunning the runway and encountering an embankment. The pilot reported that he had misjudged the wind's velocity too late to attempt a go-around. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical difficulties with the aircraft.
On April 7, 1998, at 1030 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna TR182, N5460T, overshot the runway and came to rest inverted after landing on a private strip near Maricopa, California. The aircraft sustained substantial damage and the commercial pilot and the owner/passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions existed for the business flight that had originated from the Santa Maria, California, airport at 1000. No flight plan was filed. The pilot reported that he regularly flies this aircraft for the owner who is not a pilot. They departed Santa Maria and arrived approximately 30 minutes later at their intended destination. Before landing at the private strip, the pilot noted a windsock approximately 1 mile north of the strip indicating a light wind from the north. The windsock at the private strip indicated no wind, so he chose to land to the north. After touchdown, he detected a "wind pushing from the rear" of the aircraft. The pilot stated that he misjudged the wind's velocity too late to perform a go-around. He reported that he retracted the flaps and continued to brake. The aircraft overran the runway and came to rest inverted after traveling over a 5-foot embankment. After exiting the aircraft, the pilot and passenger noted that the winds were light and that rainsqualls were approaching from the south. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical difficulties with the aircraft.
The pilot's misjudgment of the wind direction and speed, and, his inadequate compensation for those conditions. A factor in the accident was the short runway length, which limited the pilot's time to attempt a go-around.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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