MILLERSBURG, OH, USA
N579LD
Cessna U206G
The pilot had no braking effectiveness after landing to the west on a wet 1,000 foot long grass runway. The pilot said he misjudged the distance the airplane needed to stop and went off the runway into a corn field. Weather reported at an airport about 19 nautical miles away included winds from 060 degrees at 4 knots. The pilot reported that the wind was calm at the time of the accident. Interpolation of performance data found in the POH revealed that with the airplane's flaps extended to 40 degrees, power off, and maximum braking applied a on a dry, grass runway, the airplane would have a ground roll of approximately 1,068 feet in calm wind. With a 4-knot tailwind, the airplane 's ground roll would be approximately 1,260 feet. When asked how the accident could have been prevented, the pilot said, "Could have powered up and went around." The pilot also reported that there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane.
On September 2, 2001, at 0930 eastern daylight time, a Cessna U206G, N579LD, was substantially damaged during landing roll-out on a private airstrip in Millersburg, Ohio. The certificated private pilot/owner and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that originated at Beach City Airport (BJJ), Wooster, Ohio, about 0900. No flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In a telephone interview, the pilot said that he had never landed at this airstrip before, but had visited and walked the runway on other occasions. He said the grass runway was about 1,000 feet long and 80-feet wide. The runway was aligned east and west, and he landed to the west. The pilot said: "On final approach, I applied full flaps, and slowed the airplane down. I last noticed the airspeed needle leaving the green arc. I was hanging it on the prop. When I chopped the power, the airplane dropped like a rock, and I gave it a little power. I landed close to the end of the runway with the brakes applied, but I had no braking due to the wet grass and was sliding. I should have gone around, but thought the uphill slope was enough to slow me down. I have large tires on my airplane and they were smooth, but the sliding didn't help. The runway leveled off at the last 100-150 feet, and I deliberately turned the airplane so the right wing would enter the corn field first. When we went into the corn, we weren't going very fast, but the right wheel dug into the soft dirt, and the right wing slapped the ground. Once we stopped, the left main wheel was no further than 6 feet from the end of the runway." In a written statement, the pilot said: "I touched down where I wanted, braking was poor because of the wet grass. I misjudged distance I needed to stop and went into the corn about 20 feet." The pilot also said that the wind was calm. Additionally, the pilot said that he had performed several short field landings in his airplane, and would normally land in about 700 feet from the time the wheels touched down to where he would turn off the runway. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the runway environment and airplane. According to the inspector, the airplane landed about 75 feet from the approach end of the runway. Skid marks began about 100 feet from the approach end and continued for another 600 feet until the runway sloped downhill for the remaining 300 feet. The inspector reported that the outboard section of the right wing was bent up, and the brakes were functionally tested and found to be operational. He also reported that a Pilot Operating Handbook (POH) was found inside the airplane. Interpolation of performance data found in the POH revealed that with the airplane's flaps extended 40 degrees, power off, and maximum braking applied on a dry grass runway, the airplane would have a ground roll of approximately 1,068 feet in calm wind conditions, and approximately 1,260 feet with a 4-knot tailwind. The pilot reported a total of 896 flight hours, of which 320 hours were in make and model. He also reported that there were no mechanical deficiencies. When asked how this accident could have been prevented, the pilot reported, "Could have powered up and went around." Weather at Wayne County Airport (BJJ), Wooster, Ohio, about 19 nautical miles north, at 0954, was reported as wind from 060 degrees at 4 knots, clear skies, temperature 14 degrees C, and dewpoint 11 degrees C.
The pilot's misjudgment of speed and distance, which resulted in an overrun during landing. Factors were the short, wet, grass runway, and his failure to do a go-around.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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