The pilot reported that during the landing at the airport in Eagle River, Wisconsin, the Piper PA-28-180 floated down the runway, landed long, and did not slow as expected.
He continued to apply the brakes as the airplane neared the end of the runway, then felt a gust of wind from the left.
The pilot was unable to maintain control and the airplane veered off the right side of the runway.
The airplane nosed over in the grass and came to rest inverted, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing and empennage. The pilot sustained serious injuries in the crash, while his passengers sustained minor injuries.
The pilot, who reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation, told investigators that to prevent the accident he could have landed closer to the threshold of the runway.
The responding FAA inspector examined the airplane and found that the throttle was not all the way to idle.
Probable Cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain proper airspeed on approach, which resulted in an extended touchdown, loss of control, and runway excursion.
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This July 2023 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.
watching the airport surveillance video, the aircraft never slowed until near the end of the runway and turns off and flips….it looks like he never pulled the throttle to idle, going very fast down the length of the runway.!!
Rolling on the runway; gust of wind from the left; aircraft goes into the grass on the right. Sounds like a ground-based vehicle. Air vehicles (except B-2/21) have these guidance devices called vertical stabilizers that like to align themselves with windflow. That would means that gusts from the left would push the tail to the right and cause the airvehicle to veer to the left… but, excuses are good, I guess ….
Basic rule: you always go around! As an old guy myself, I recognize some limitations that come with age. But airspeed control and noticing how far down the runway one is likely to land has nothing to do with age. It’s basic airmanship.
“The responding FAA inspector examined the airplane and found that the throttle was not all the way to idle.” Ain’t necessarily so. Could be the pilot was holding onto the throttle for dear life as the coffin nosed over and it got pushed forward as a result.
/J
Wow,!! this guy runs off the end of a 5,000 ft runway.??
How about a ‘go-around’ if you come in too high and too fast and float past the 1/2 way point ??
A low time, old guy…maybe needs some instruction on landing speeds.?