This January 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 Archer. Injuries: None. Location: Great Barrington, Mass. Aircraft damage: Substantial.
What reportedly happened: The pilot initially reported that as the airplane approached runway 11, it touched down about one-third down the runway. He applied the brakes and noted that the pressure of the left brake was firmer than the right and this caused the airplane to go off the left side of the runway and into a snowbank.
Several witnesses, including two flight instructors, reported that the airplane’s approach was high and fast, and it touched down about two-thirds down the runway, then veered off the left side of the runway during braking. Investigators found even skid marks, beginning about 733 feet from the end of the runway, traveling off the pavement.
Probable cause: The pilot’s improper approach, failure to perform a go-around, and failure to maintain directional control while braking after a long landing.
For more information: NTSB.gov. NTSB Identification: ERA10CA122