Hesperia, CA, USA
N31RM
Ronald D. Murray RV-6A
The airplane overran the runway after landing and impacted the airport perimeter fence. After entering the destination airport environment, the pilot requested airport advisories for landing on Universal Communications (UNICOM), but received no answer. He decided to land on runway 3 and asked his passenger to confirm the wind direction. After looking out the window, the passenger confirmed the wind direction and agreed with the pilot's decision to land on runway 3. During the landing flare, the pilot realized that he had landed the airplane long and fast due to a tailwind condition. He was unable to stop the airplane before the end of the runway, and it collided with the airport perimeter fence. The pilot stated that the airplane and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight. A local area airport, 24 nautical miles from the accident airport, reported winds from 240 degrees at 10 knots.
On June 20, 2006, about 1130 Pacific daylight time, an experimental Murray RV-6A, N31RM, overran runway 3 after landing at Hesperia Airport, Hesperia, California. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot and one passenger sustained minor injuries; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The cross-country personal flight departed Apple Valley, California, about 1100, with a planned destination of Hesperia. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot submitted a written report. After arriving in the airport environment, he requested airport advisories via Universal Communications (UNICOM), but received no response. He decided to land on runway 3 and asked his passenger to confirm the wind conditions. The passenger looked out the right window to verify the wind direction and agreed with the pilot's decision to land on runway 3. The airplane touched down long and fast, and the pilot realized that he was landing with a tailwind. It was too late for him to stop before the end of the runway and the airplane ran into the airport perimeter fence. The pilot stated that the airplane and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight or subsequent landing. Ontario Airport, Ontario, California, located 24 nautical miles southwest of the accident site, reported winds from 240 degrees at 10 knots.
the pilot's inadequate in-flight planning and selection of the wrong runway, which resulted in a downwind landing, the pilot's failure to attain the proper touchdown point, and a runway overrun.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
Aviation Accidents App
In-Depth Access to Aviation Accident Reports
