This September 2010 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
Aircraft: Piper Cherokee. Injuries: None. Location: Marlboro, Mass. Aircraft damage: Substantial.
What reportedly happened: The pilot said the 1,659-foot runway was the shortest runway he had ever attempted to land on.
The pilot verified the wind direction and speed by observing the windsock, then set up for landing. During the first approach, the airplane was high, so he executed a go-around. During a second attempt, he initiated a forward slip to lose altitude and landed the airplane two-thirds down the runway. He applied the brakes but did not have enough runway to bring the airplane to a stop. The airplane went off the runway and through a fence.
Probable cause: The pilot’s improper touchdown point and failure to perform a go-around in a timely manner, which resulted in a runway excursion.
For more information: NTSB.gov. NTSB Identification: ERA10CA496
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